As energy prices soar and more and more people consider renewable energy options, Belmullet IT Sligo student, Karen Barrett, chose a timely theme when picking her end of year project. Karen (29) and three fellow students built a wind generator which will now be used as a research and teaching aid at the Institute.

ClAR ICH, a voluntary housing association in Claremorris, is establishing a Sustainable Housing Network for housing associations in Co. Mayo. CLAR ICH  received funding under the Wheel’s Training Links programme to deliver training and mentoring in all aspects of energy conservation.

For much of the 20th century some of the biggest industries in Ballina were powered by renewable energy that came from hydroelectric power generated by the River Moy. And now a member of Ballina Town Council says that at a time when Ireland is desperately seeking out new sources of renewable and green energy, it is time once again to look to the magestic river to supply some of Ballina's energy needs.

Renewable energy produced in North Mayo could help secure the Ireland's energy needs and also provide up to 10 per cent of Britain’s electricity requirement, say the developers of a wind and wave energy project at Glinsk mountain near Belderrig in North Mayo. The company behind the project, Organic Power Ltd of Skibbereen, Co Cork, says construction work on the scheme would create hundreds of jobs.

Killala-based councillor, Jarlath Munnelly, welcomed the decision of An Taisce to withdraw their appeal to An Board Pleanala against the Mayo Renewable Power project at Killala, which paves the way for the new biomass power generation plant to be built. The Fine Gael councillor, who had been very critical of An Taisces decision to object to this project, said that this was a sensible decision for all parties involved.

Ireland is sitting on a potential multi-million euro industry in the renewable energy sector, delegates attending a major worldwide convention in Co. Mayo later this month will be told. Special focus will be placed on enterprise and employment in the renewable energy sector at the eleventh Mayo Associations Worldwide Convention in Westport.

The Mayo Worldwide Convention will highlight the enormous potential Mayo has as a generator of wind and wave power. ‘Power by Land and Sea – a Future for our People’ is the theme of the convention in Westport, which Mayo county manager, Peter Hynes, described as “a great opportunity to send out a positive message about Mayo.”

A bright future for bio energy and the agricultural sector was unveiled at the “Mayo Willow Harvest Open Day” on Friday, April 1st, in Ballina.  The event took place to mark the 1st harvest of Biomass Willow in Co Mayo on a 20-acre plot at Derek Hannick’s farm, 2 miles outside Ballina.

Mayo's growing importance as a location for developing renewable energy has been further underscored with the news that ESB International (ESBI) is seeking foreshore licence to develop a five megawatt wave energy project off Achill. The licence would allow the company to conduct marine surveys and measurements for its WestWave project at  Achill, and a second facility Killard Point, Co Clare.

Representatives from Mayo, Kerry and Wicklow County Councils will attend the meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation tomorrow, Tuesday, 18 January, to discuss job creation opportunities in the renewable energy sector in each county.