Trammon, Eco Advocacy CLG , Enfield, , Supporting Environmental Justice & A83 PW32 Awareness

Tel: +353(0)86-7853333 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ecoadvocacy.ie

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Contact Reference: Ph. (01) 678 2668 Email: [email protected]

NECP Initial Consultation, Strategic Energy Policy Division, Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment, 29-31 Adelaide Road, 2, DO2 X285 11th November 2018

Initial Consultation – Ireland’s National Energy & Climate Plan 2021-2030 Deadline for submissions pursuant is 5pm Monday 12th November 2018 URL: https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/energy/consultations/Pages/Initial-Consultation-NECP-2021-2030.aspx ------

Dear Sir/ Madam

It is submitted that energy creation from Deep Geo-Thermal Energy should be a main part of this plan.

1. This is essentially ‘free’ energy contained within the earths crust.

PROCESS

2. Briefly, it entails boring 2 boreholes to depths of between 2 and 3 miles. It is dependant on the existence of a particular type of rock [ Rock Formation] to conduct water from A to B. The water coming back up is superheated to temperatures of between 100°c and 200°c. A very small plant is all that is required on the surface to convert the energy into electricity.

EXAMPLES

3. There are many examples around Paris, Austria, Germany, Iceland and so on. There is comparatively small investment in this energy when compared with that required to site a wind turbine.

IRISH GEOLOGY

4. The Irish geological position is that there is a fault line stretching from Limerick to Louth [the Caledonian fault line] where two tectonic plates collided many millions of years ago. All along this fault line there are numerous mines, the most notable being ‘Tara Mines’ in County Meath. Indeed the

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management at Tara have shared there knowledge on temperatures/ rock formations, etc to researchers of Deep-geothermal which was most helpful. The correct rock formation [Kentstown Rock Formation] lies beneath this area. Moreover there are numerous ‘hot springs’ all along this line and there is in fact a townland near Enfield, County Meath known as ‘Hotwell’. At times of significant rainfall events, water comes up boreholes at c.22°c, such is the geothermal activity beaneath.

5. GT Energy (a specialist Geothermal energy company) had raised capital investment and was ready to being work here in Ireland in 2011, but due to a minor legal technicality they were unable to proceed. The legislation was to be changed to facilitate this, but sadly this has not thus far happened.

LEGAL POSITION

6. The legal position as we understand it is, that under the mining acts of 1940’s, it is not legal to bore a bole below 300 yards. There was a corrective bill before the houses of the oireachtas ‘The Deep- Geothermal Energy Bill’. Given the lack of political knowledge on the issue, this bill was making painfully slow progress through the Dáil, but this has now disappeared from the legislative programe. This needs urgent priority and should feature strongly in the proposed plan.

7. Given the ongoing challenges presented by other forms of energy; particularly wind. Our research demonstrates that Deep Geothermal is to our mind a no-brainer and a ready source of constant energy.

8. The ADVANATAGES of Deep Geothermal over Wind are many and may be summarised as: - a. No visually obtrusive issues, b. No health issues, c. No fluctuations in the availability of energy, d. No spinning reserve (backup) requirement, e. No wastage of finite natural resources such as sand and gravel, steel and so fourth. f. No property devaluation, g. There are numerous suitable geological bedrock areas in Ireland. h. There would be public support provided true and proper information is provided and there is no confusion with fracking.

Yours sincerely,

______Kieran Cummins, Executive Director Eco Advocacy CLG

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