Energy efficient Exploris hosts launch
3rd March 2006
Exploris aquarium in Portaferry was the venue chosen to launch a £59million Environment and Renewable Energy funding package by the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, MP.
Mr Hain contributed to an educational roadshow by Bryson House and Action Renewables, where children from St. Mary's Primary School - Portaferry, St. Malachy's Primary School - Bangor and Groomsport Primary School learned about alternative forms of energy including wind, water and solar power and the importance this has on climate change. Pupils from each school tried their hand at making water wheels and wind powered cars.
The launch of the funding package comes amid fundamental energy market changes over the last two years. High and volatile fuel prices have altered consumers' perception of affordability, with more and more people finding it difficult to heat their homes. Exploris was chosen as the ideal venue for this launch as it is partly powered by solar energy and is situated on a site of specific scientific interest near the world's first commercial marine current turbine site on Strangford Lough. This site, along with the world's only combined heat and power wood pellet production facility which opened in Enniskillen last year, have helped put Northern Ireland on the map.
The overall aim of the fund is to enhance the sustainability of the Northern Ireland energy system by diversity of supply, which in turn will encourage innovation, skills development and job opportunities particularly in the rural community, contributing to energy costs, aiding industrial competition whilst alleviating fuel poverty. The fund will support action in four programmes including research and demonstration, building market capacity, accelerated deployment and awareness raising. £35 million of the investment will support accelerated deployment – the use of renewable sources to provide heat, light and power requirements in domestic dwellings, commercial premises and public sector buildings.
Grants of between 30 – 50% to install renewable energy in private homes will increase the number of homes in Northern Ireland with renewable heat systems ten fold to approximately 4,000. These will be targeted at high energy users to maximise the impact of the assistance. These grants can be used for photovoltaics (solar panels), Biomass, wind or geothermal energy systems.
600 solar hot water systems are to be installed in social housing with preference to fuel poor households. At Government level, the fund will result in the Stormont Estate being powered by a new biomass plant, the integration of solar energy systems on other Government buildings and enhanced energy efficiency measures in public sector buildings, with an emphasis on schools.
There will also be a unique programme of research into the potential for energy crops, waste and geothermal resources to generate heat and electricity.
All pupils attending were given very generous goody bags from Action Renewables which contained the wood pellets known as Biomass - an innovative bio-energy initiative which uses surplus sawdust and woodchips to generate electricity and helps reduce Carbon Emissions to the atmosphere. Biomass energy also helps to combat climate change and significantly reduce truck journeys per year on the roads of Northern Ireland by 1.5 million miles!
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
Photos
Mr Hain - Secretary of State and Andy McCrea Launch the renewable energy Funding pack.
Jack McQuaid, Adam McBratney and Nathan Louden test out 'Demon' and 'The Bullet' their wind powered cars.
For more information please contact Events and Marketing Officer - Rory Martin at Exploris. Tel: 028 42 72 8062, fax: 028 42 72 8396 or email info@exploris.org.uk
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