Yuan You

With the explosive growth of world population and the increasing depletion of traditional fossil energy sources, instead of looking for new clean and renewable energy as countries have to face reality. Ireland as EU countries, should the development of renewable energy in the forefront of the world. Review of Ireland has been the exploration of new energy, we found that both the detour, and has accumulated a rich experience. This article focuses on the Irish in the future path of the new energy to what direction. There are also several foreign classic cases of research and analysis. The aim is to solve Ireland's energy and environmental issues.

Background

The definition of renewable energy sources

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewable, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from hydroelectricity. New renewable (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and bio fuels) accounted for another 3% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewable in electricity generation is around 19%, with 16% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewable.

Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 198 gigawatts (GW) in 2010, and is widely used in Europe, Asia, and the United States. At the end of 2010, cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) installations surpassed 40 GW and PV power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 megawatt (MW) SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. The world's largest geothermal power installation is the Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.

While many renewable energy projects are large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. As of 2011, small solar PV systems provide electricity to a few million households, and micro-hydro configured into mini-grids serves many more. Over 44 million households use biogas made in household-scale digesters for lighting and/or cooking, and more than 166 million households rely on a new generation of more-efficient biomass cook stoves. United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that renewable energy has the ability to lift the poorest nations to new levels of prosperity.

Climate change concerns, coupled with high oil prices, peak oil, and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. New government spending, regulation and policies helped the industry weather the global financial crisis better than many other sectors. According to a 2011 projection by the International Energy Agency, solar power generators may produce most of the world’s electricity within 50 years, dramatically reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that harm the environment.

The recent energy situation in Ireland

At this stage, Ireland's new renewable energy sources mainly wind and water-based, with wind-based power plants to wind models, while the hydro is tidal and sea, including a hydro electric power station.

1 wind energy

Ireland and throughout Europe a very long history of using wind energy, early in the 12thcentury, people began using windmills for agricultural activities, and modern wind energy is used mainly in the form of windmill power plants, wind energy has a clean and pollution-free, Inexpensive electrical system , Simple design, No harmonics characteristics，Until 2007， Ireland has an exceptional wind energy resource, with an estimated technical resource of 613 TWh / year

, Wind is intermittent & unpredictable – challenging integration into the national grid

Back-up and storage solutions necessary

Wind energy resource in Ireland is 4x European average

As of 2007, Ireland had circa 800MW installed wind capacity: 1 offshore and 35 on-shore wind energy sites

Market has become larger and more stable

Current cost of wind generated electricity is approximately on a par with fossil fuel generated electricity (5.7 cent per kHh – large wind energy >5MW), (5.9cent per kWh – small wind energy < 5MW)

Cost of wind electricity generation is dependent on many factors including: location, wind speeds, electrical grid connections

2，Hydro

Europe's history can be traced back Lee water year 1050, at the time appeared to use hydro-based hydraulic mill, modern hydro in Ireland, mainly hydroelectric and tidal power in the form of existence.

Conventional hydropower, Ireland is an island, with relatively abundant hydro resources, but the Irish did not like the Ganges or Yangtze River as the rich inland hydro, voluntary water main to marine resources, so their hydro mainly tidal energy and small hydropower exist in the form of renewable energy in Ireland constitutes an important part

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil fuel powered energy plants. Worldwide, an installed capacity of 1,010 GW supplied hydroelectricity in 2010. Approximately 16% of the world's electricity is renewable, with hydroelectricity account for 21% of renewable sources and 3.4% of total energy sources.

Ireland's hydro use is also reflected in some small areas, such as Ireland Donegal County, local residents will soon see the use of hydro rather than electricity or gas to provide energy for street lights. 3,000 Euros street price of hydro developed by LH eco-technology Company will soon be installed in the Bally Bogey the Finn River pedestrian bridge to be tested. Work, the hydro will drive a 100 watt turbine for a 30-watt hydro every LED (light emitting diode) light charge

。

3 tidal energy

As Earth rotates underneath the bulge (which stays pointing roughly toward the moon), a fixed point on earth experiences two high tides and two low tides per day

Use of tidal energy technology called tidal energy, tidal power and hydroelectric works like normal. At high tide when the water stored in reservoirs, in the form of potential energy saving; release of water at low tide, using high, the gap between the low tide levels to promote the rotating turbine to drive generators. The difference is the different sea and river, the water drop is not accumulated, but the larger flow, and intermittent, tidal power turbine to the structure to be suitable for low head, high flow characteristics. Tidal flow and river flow difference, it is constantly changing directions. Tidal power has the following three forms:

(1) single-cell-way power: the first is located in the Gulf Gate embankment, water storage at high tide gate, tide when they turn on the water-driven turbine generating set. This type of power plant can generate electricity at low tide, twice a day, each up to 5 hours.

(2) single-cell two-way power: for the water at high tide and low tide when the water can generate electricity, as far as possible at high tide and low tide can generate electricity, people will use a clever way to set the loop facilities or turbine group, in order to improve tidal of utilization.

(3) two-cell two-way power: the level of two different configurations of the reservoir to generate electricity in both directions.

However, the first two types are not tidal flat (no water level is poor) or stops tide water discharged from the reservoir in the case of relatively stable given the voltage of electricity. The third way, not only in the entire process of tidal fluctuations can continuously generate electricity, but also so that the power output is relatively stable. It is particularly applicable to those isolated islands; the island can always get a smooth uninterrupted power supply. It has upper and lower build tidal reservoirs, and pumped storage power station with a small. But there are some power losses.

And similar to wind power, wind turbine rotation of drive current, tidal power is also used in the kinetic energy of the fluid, but it uses a fluid to flow or tidal currents. Installed capacity of1.2 MW Sea Gen power plant has, in fact it is composed by a pair of turbines, each turbine diameter, 66 feet long (or 20 meters), can be rotated 180 degrees, maintenance, they can be raised to the surface. Inset is the turbine under normal operating conditions.

By 2015, the record will be built in South Korea Wando Ho eng gin Waterways project to break the $ 820 million project investment, installed capacity of 300 MW, 60-foot (18 m) of the turbine on their own gravity fixed at the seabed.

Possible direction of development

Usually we think of renewable energy is included can be regenerated water, solar, biomass, wind, geothermal and ocean energy and other resources, collectively, pay attention to nuclear energy, not renewable energy. Ireland's ocean energy and wind energy technology is already quite mature, so we continue to implement these two mature renewable energy technologies or to explore a new way out? Let us first look at the possible development

1 Solar energy

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar energy technologies include solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity and solar architecture, which can make considerable contributions to solving some of the most urgent problems the world now faces.

Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.

In 2011, the International Energy Agency said that "the development of affordable, inexhaustible and clean solar energy technologies will have huge longer-term benefits. It will increase countries’ energy security through reliance on an indigenous, inexhaustible and mostly import-independent resource, enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, lower the costs of mitigating climate change, and keep fossil fuel prices lower than otherwise. These advantages are global. Hence the additional costs of the incentives for early deployment should be considered learning investments; they must be wisely spent and need to be widely shared".

Ireland is located in Western Europe, due to climatic reasons, so cloudy and rainy all year round in Ireland, which makes use of solar energy received considerable limitations, perhaps the construction of large-scale concentrated solar power plants is not realistic, it is clear that individual households solar facilities more suitable for Irish family

2 biomass energy

Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Befouls include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases. Although fossil fuels have their origin in ancient carbon, they are not considered biofuels by the generally accepted definition because they contain carbon that has been "out" of the carbon cycle for a very long time. Biofuels are gaining increased public and scientific attention, driven by factors such as oil price spikes, the need for increased energy security, concern over greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and support from government subsidies.

Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermentation, mostly from carbohydrates produced in sugar or starch crops such as corn or sugarcane. Cellulosic biomass, derived from non-food sources such as trees and grasses, is also being developed as a feedstock for ethanol production. Ethanol can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane and improve vehicle emissions. Bioethanol is widely used in the USA and in Brazil. Current plant design does not provide for converting the lignin portion of plant raw materials to fuel components by fermentation.

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using transesterification and is the most common befoul in Europe.

Many of the farms in Ireland to carry out the use of biomass is a very good idea, mainly in rural areas of methane and biomass, while the city is generally the use of biomass waste recycling-based. Below we will continue to discuss the use and development of biomass energy.

3 geothermal energy

Geothermal energy from deep within the earth's renewable energy, it began on the Earth’s molten magma and radioactive decay. Deep groundwater circulation and from the very depths of magma intrusion into the crust, put the heat from deep underground band to near-surface. Its reserves of energy than the current amount of people use a lot more, most concentrated in the vicinity of the edge of tectonic plates, the region is volcanic and earthquake-prone areas. It is not only pollution-free clean energy, and if the heat extraction rate does not exceed the added speed, then heat and is renewable.

Geothermal steam powers once the steam and secondary steam and French law. Direct use of a steam method of dry saturated ground (or a bit of superheat) steam or use steam from the water to separate the mixture of steam power. Secondary steam method has two meanings, one is not directly use dirty natural steam (primary steam), but it vaporized by the heat exchanger clean water, re-use of clean steam (secondary steam) power generation. The second implication is that the first soft drink from the high temperature hot water to separate the production of secondary steam vacuum expansion, the pressure is still higher than the local atmospheric pressure, and was entering a steam turbine.

How to use this huge potential energy? Italian leather is also Lou Jib Noun • • Prince Contain 1904 and the first time in Ray Ladd natural to superheated steam for power generation. Geothermal power is the use of hydraulic or blast fragmentation method to inject water into the rock to produce high temperature steam, and then rotate out of the ground so a turbine power generator issue. In this process, a portion of the exhaust gas is not used to or through the condenser water treatment to restore back to the ground, so the cycle. 1990, installed generating capacity of 6000MW, the direct use of geothermal resources is equivalent to 4.1Mt total oil equivalent.

The world's largest country in the use of geothermal energy is Iceland, Iceland is not coal, oil, and even the jungle is also a result of deforestation and the early Vikings running out, notes a fuel source. The same as Sweden, Iceland intends to become a full live without relying on imported oil and the "oil-free economy."

Icelanders to high ground water will be transported to the capital city of Reykjavik, the first with the office supply room heating. Icelanders are also used volcanic geothermal and waterpower generation. Now Iceland's supply of complete heating does not rely on imported oiler coal, geothermal alone is enough to Iceland 95% of the heating supply。

Icelanders began driving hydrogen-powered boat; guess to two ○ three to five years in Iceland are much petrol-powered vehicles will be hydrogen-powered vehicles application of clean energy exchange.

Ireland also has very rich geothermal energy resources, but mainly the direct use of geothermal. Currently, almost 90% of houses in Ireland to use geothermal water for heating, and the burning of fossil fuels, geothermal application in Ireland of about 200million tons per year to reduce co2. 2004 in Ireland co2 emissions by 2.8million tones of the total.

GT Energy on September 23, 2010 proposed the development of Ireland's first geothermal power plant is approved, it will generate up to 4MW of electricity.

Geothermal energy in Ireland has a huge potential to develop into a new and exciting sector.

South County's geological conditions that it can support three cogeneration facilities together provide up to 100MW base load energy.

Irish government is drafting a deep exploration and development of geothermal resources bill.

Foreign experience

We previously discussed the possible development of Ireland's future energy direction, so that one is suitable for Ireland's energy policy? Let's take a look at the experiences and lessons of other countries

1 Biomass use in Europe

European bio-energy is the use of technology since the 1970s, in response to the oil crisis gradually developed. At present, bio-energy use of technology has become the most important EU countries for renewable energy technologies. In the countries to support the development of renewable energy promotion policy, bio-energy technology has developed rapidly, the proportion of biomass in the rapid increase in energy, especially biomass particles forming direct-fired power generation technology and the technology has been very extensive. Currently, only Sweden had more than 10 biomass pellet plant, a single company's annual production capacity reached 20 million tons. Biomass calorific value of solid particles is equivalent to low-grade coal, except through special fixed supply electricity and heat transport enterprises, but also the way through bags on the market, the first choice for many families living with fuel. In addition, the use of crop residues and forest wastes for direct combustion biomass power generation is currently using the most sophisticated technology. At present, small-scale biomass-fueled combined heat and power (installed capacity of 1-2 MW) in Sweden and Denmark has become a major power generation and heating mode. Such as Sweden's energy consumption in 2002 to 73 million tons of standard coal, of which renewable energy of 21 million tones of standard coal, accounting for 28% of energy consumption, and consumption of renewable energy, biomass accounted for 55%, mainly as district heating fuel. Such as 1980, the Swedish district heating energy consumption of 90% oil, and now mainly rely on biomass fuels.

Denmark in the direct-fired biomass power generation has made outstanding achievements. BWE Denmark pioneered research and development of the straw biomass burning power generation technology; so far in this area is still the world's highest level holder. In the BWE's technical support, built in Denmark in 1988 the first straw biomass power plants, power generation from biomass combustion technology has been widely used in Denmark. At present, Denmark has established a 130 straw power plant, so that Denmark has become major biomass energy. In 2002, the Danish energy consumption was about 28 million tons of standard coal, renewable energy which is 350 million tons of coal, accounting for 12% of energy consumption. Renewable energy in the biomass proportion of 81%. Over the past 10 years, Denmark's new construction projects are based on combined heat and power biomass as fuel, while also changed over the past number of coal-fired heating plants combustion of biomass cogeneration projects.

Germany and Italy on the solid particles of biomass direct combustion power generation technology and also attaches great importance, in terms of biomass combined heat and power applications are also common. Such as Germany's total energy consumption in 2002 about 500 million tons of standard coal, of which 15 million tons of standard coal for renewable energy, accounting for 3% of total energy consumption. Renewable biomass energy consumption accounted for 68.5%, mainly for regional co-generation and bio-liquid fuel. Italy's total energy consumption in 2002 was 2.5 million tons of coal, of which about 13 million tons of renewable energy standard coal, accounting for 5% of totals energy consumption. Renewable energy consumption accounted for 24% biomass, primarily solid waste generation and bio-liquid fuel.

The second largest area of biomass energy use is the use of biomass for liquid or gaseous fuel instead of gasoline or diesel. Currently, the use of food products or oil crops, such as barley or rapeseed production of fuel ethanol or biodiesel technology has matured, has been more widespread in Europe instead of gasoline or diesel fuel use, the main problems faced by the supply of raw materials. Europe, forest cover, forest wood resources are very rich, therefore, European countries are developing the system to take advantage of forest wood fuel ethanol technology. MTBE in Sweden has 10 cubic meters of wood fermentation tank to produce ethanol in the middle of trial, the production of ethanol has a 5% -10% ratio to the local oil in the car; Germany CHOREN developed biomass gasification synthetic diesel technology, has completed the annual output of 200 tons of small-scale pilot, is building an annual output of 15,000 tons of medium-sized demonstration unit. In addition, Sweden PURAC Company will also use animal processing by-products, animal manure and food waste and other production of biogas purification, after gas station for compressed natural gas vehicles to urban use. Currently, in Sweden Link? Ping region of 64 buses and 520 cars in the biogas as fuel. Germany has also developed a small methane gas power generation technology has greatly enhanced the level of application of biogas; methane doubled the number of power stations. As in 1999, only 850 biogas plants in Germany, to reach more than 2,000 in 2000

2 Japanese

The same as Ireland, Japan is an island, facing the same resources are relatively scarce and the Irish situation, then choose which way the Japanese do?

Japan is a lack of national energy resources. Japan in 1955 before the economy began rapid growth; energy import rate was only 20% to 80% in 1970, to 1973 before the first oil crisis, as high as 88%. The current rate of Japan's energy imports although lower, but still about 80%. Japan's nuclear power in total energy supply accounted for 15% to 16%, but all dependent on fuel imports.

Japan Energy is one of the characteristics of the energy power of prominent Japanese to various types of energy conversion to electricity rates in the developed world is the highest. Second, over-reliance on oil, oil in total energy consumption in more than 50%, and 80% of the oil from the Middle East. Third, a major nuclear power than is currently in Japan there are sly seat to run nuclear power reactors, power generation accounts for nearly 40% of total electricity generation. Fourth, lower energy use of natural gas, natural gas consumption in 1998 accounted for only 12% of energy consumption. Fifth, thermal power, hydropower potential is not; thermal power is still the main force, which accounted for 16% of the fuel power plants, coal-fired power plants accounted for 14%, 24% gas-fired power plants.

Japan in March 2011 a major earthquake, the earthquake caused a tsunami and Fukushima nuclear power plant materials leak, Japan and the surrounding environment causing irreparable consequences, which is Ireland be lessons learned. In September 2006, the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said that Ireland's determined not to build nuclear power plants.

3 China

China is a vast and resource-rich countries, but also makes a huge population China is facing serious energy challenges in recent years, the Chinese government's strong supportfor renewable energy use in China have made great progress, mainly wind and solar waterman, the Three Gorges dam is the world's largest power plant who, while China's solar panels also occupied the main international markets. These are mainly due to the Chinese government's policy support as well as China's cheap labor costs. But China also hassignificant environmental problems, such as the Three Gorges Dam, part of the experts believe that the Three Gorges Dam affect the downstream environment, resulting in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2011 drought. Ireland and China, does not include the cost of cheap labor and abundant natural resources, but Ireland can develop their own advantage, with China's low-cost renewable energy cooperation. Through the Government’s policy support to develop their own renewable energy industry.

The development of Ireland

In summary, we can see, the Irish wind energy, ocean energy, geothermal energy and other aspects has its own advantages, but also slightly less than biomass, etc., then Ireland’s future energy Which Way ? In my opinion, should be from about several aspects.

1 Development of new renewable energy technologies

Although the Irish side in the wind and tidal energy technology leader, but these techniquesalso have their own flaws that, while Ireland's use of geothermal direct use is still in the stage, a new geothermal power stations are under construction. Widely used in Europe, Ireland is also part of biomass in the blank, so we should vigorously develop new energy technologies to meet the development

2 Policy support

As renewable energy (including biomass) of cost, there is no strong policy support is difficult to develop. In order to promote renewable energy development, in addition to a clear EU renewable energy targets, Member States with national practices put forward their own objectives and requirements, and to take positive and pragmatic policies and measures, including high acquisition, investment subsidies, tax relief and the quota system.

High-priced acquisition: buying the EU countries to promote the common development of renewable energy practices is the most effective measures, known as the "power purchase method." Is based on various characteristics of renewable energy technologies, to develop a reasonable tariff for renewable energy, through legislation to require power companies to determine the price by a full acquisition.

Investment subsidies: subsidies for the EU countries to promote investment in biomass energy development and utilization of important measures. Such as Sweden from 1975 onwards, each from the government budget spending 36 million Euros to support the combustion of biomass and conversion technologies, mainly R & D and commercialization of early technology demonstration project subsidies. From 1997 to 2002, biomass cogeneration projects for 25% of the investment subsidies, subsidies for five years, a total of 48.67 million Euros. In addition, from 2004 to 2006, the Swedish government for household use of biomass heating systems (using biomass pellet fuel), € 1,350 per household to provide subsidies; Denmark since 1981, developed a biomass energy producers to give 400 per year million Euros of investment subsidy program, this program so that the current biomass power generation in Denmark tariff equivalent 8 euro cents per kWh; Germany from 1991 to 2001, the federal government investment subsidies in the field of biomass total € 295 million. Since 1990, Germany's Kiwi development bank to provide low interest loans to private enterprises engaged in the biomass, 50% lower than market interest rates; Italy. From 1991 to 1995, biomass utilization projects on a 30-40% investment subsidy.

Tax relief: tax relief for the EU countries to promote the importance of renewable energy development measures. Energy consumption in EU countries impose higher taxes, more tax types also have an energy tax, carbon tax and sulfur tax, especially for petroleum products consumption taxation is very high, accounting for the three gasoline and diesel prices two-thirds. EU countries are the use of renewable energy tax exemption forms of energy. Such as energy taxes in Sweden are more heavily indebted countries, fuel taxes, including taxes, energy taxes, carbon taxes, sulfur tax. Exempt from all taxes if all the energy, rather to provide preferential tariff per kilowatt-hour 2 euros, so the main basis for the Swedish tax policy to promote biomass energy development and utilization of biomass energy development project that is exempt from all types of energy taxes.

3 Developed in cooperation with other countries

Ireland itself is an island nation with limited resources, high labor costs, so you can consider and some developing countries such as China and India cooperation. Use of cheap labor in these countries, and new energy technologies, to conduct their own energy infrastructure construction.

Conclusion

In this article I discussed the energy situation in Ireland and the future direction of development, all in all, Ireland must develop a variety of renewable energy technologies to meet the situation, and the government also introduced policies to support. Renewable energy is the future direction of development of new energy, while Ireland must grasp their own advantages to their development.

Risk analysis

Reference

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BD%AE%E6%B1%90%E8%83%BD 潮汐能

Japan's nuclear crisis and its impact Zhong Kaili

British White Paper on Renewable Energy