Solar Energy in Ireland
We are all affected by climate change. The world is simply getting hotter – and the rising temperatures are increasing the incidence of droughts, floods and storms. Eleven of the twelve years, from 1995 to 2006, were amongst the warmest in more than a century – and 2005 was the second hottest year ever recorded
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
But the problems will get worse. It will be harder to grow the world’s foods, as currently temperate areas will become drier and barren. What’s more, with the melting of the polar ice caps, sea levels will rise and low-lying areas will disappear beneath the sea. These are problems that we have largely created for ourselves, due to our profligate use of fossil fuels – which, as a result, are becoming increasingly scarce. In fact, the world’s oil reserves are now almost 80% less than previously thought. Before long, petrol and other fuels are likely to become prohibitively expensive
Source: University of Uppsala, Sweden.
However, in order to leave a viable world to our children and grandchildren, this is a problem that we must all now address. People are becoming more and more concerned about the problem – and governments are taking steps to become “greener”. At a personal level, people are increasingly considering the effect of their own “carbon footprint”. We are buying energy-efficient appliances. Recycling more. And driving less.
The solar energy, thanks to modern technology, can be used for a range of appliances – from domestic heating to electrical power generation. As the sun is a limitless resource, solar thermal energy is one of the most cost-effective renewable energy systems – and it can significantly reduce your utility bills. It can be easily integrated into any conventional hot water system. The equipment is designed to last for 20 years or more. And it is far more energy-efficient than conventional heating technologies.
But we rarely see the sun in Ireland!
Don’t worry! Although, the amount of energy that can be collected on a cloudy day is less than on a sunny day, the process doesn’t stop altogether. The rate of which solar energy arrives on the surface of the earth is known as the “insolation level” – and, in Ireland, our level is comparable to that in countries such as France, Germany and Austria, where solar heating is proving increasingly popular.
The good news is that, in Ireland, there are reasonable levels of insolation throughout the year. The south of Ireland experiences higher readings than northerly areas, but the difference is relatively small.
The American space agency, NASA, publishes insolation statistics for all regions of the world – and the average monthly figures for southern Ireland are shown in the table below. As you might expect, the best levels are in May, June, July and in August. December is usually the worst month.
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