An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, addressed a major renewable energy conference in Co. Mayo this week. He gave the opening address at a major conference which took place in Mount Falcon, Ballina. It was attended by around 140 delegates and was an initiative of Mayo County Council and was organised with the support of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Mainstream Renewable Power.
The conference, ‘Offshore renewable energy: Exploring supply chain opportunities’ focused on how policy-makers can work with industry to take advantage of Ireland’s location as home to some of the best wind and wave resources in the world to become a world-leader in renewable energy development.
Addressing the conference the Taoiseach spoke of the Government’s full commitment to exploiting the benefits associated with the development of renewable energy, particularly in the marine sector.
He outlined the purpose of the Government’s first integrated marine plan as being “to put the days of underachievement in the marine area behind us and to ensure that our ocean wealth is a key component of economic recovery and sustainable growth into the future”.
A key theme explored during the conference was the economic benefits associated with the development of renewable energy, particularly for the western region. The ocean energy sector alone has the potential to create employment opportunities of up to 70,000 jobs and has a potential to cumulative economic benefit of up to €120 billion by 2050.
Mayo Today, September 6, 2012
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