"Green" policies are destroying this country

It's the Celtic Tiger all over again

We had one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. Hardly surprising. Don't think imprisoning people within 5km of their homes is sustainable.

What would you rather? Should be something that you can realistically have implemented before 2030

Ireland did indeed have one of the strictest lockdowns globally - and as I have said many times previously on other threads - I wonder how the government of Ireland will react to the next crisis that may involve a potential reduction in living standards, or liberty curtailment - for the 'greater good'. I think I know the answer.

As I said it "should be something that you can realistically have implemented before 2030".

Either way, we are on track to have several GW of additional wind capacity added to the grid by 2030. This coupled with a few GW of solar will cover most of our needs.

2030-2050 is when we expand those further, add additional interconnectors, additional storage, green hydrogen etc.

You don't like that plan, fair enough, but it is what is planned for the country.

The announcement today from Ryan for EV's will definitely help speed up the transition to EV's

The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D. today (21 July 2022) announced a suite of grants and initiatives which will make it easier for people and businesses to make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) during the launch of Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland. The new dedicated Office will oversee Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles.

In total, Minister Ryan announced four new grant schemes and initiatives. Among them is a new apartment charging grant which will make it easier for people who live in apartments and multi-unit dwellings to charge an EV. He also announced an expansion to the home charger grant which will enable any tenants and homeowners to apply for a grant, whether they own an EV or not. This can also be used for visitor use or at rented accommodation.

A new trial to promote and encourage the electrification of the commercial fleet was also announced, giving businesses the opportunity to test an EV free of charge for at least three months. For sports clubs across the island of Ireland, there will be new funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers for members and visitors. A full outline of the new grants and initiatives is provided below.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland’s principal focus is to enable the delivery of the ambitious electric vehicle targets under the Climate Action Plan. To ensure a fair and equitable transition to large scale zero emission vehicle use, the full range of needs for people and businesses across Ireland must be met, including ensuring a just transition for those in rural, Gaeltacht and Islands area. The existing and future EV charging infrastructure network must be accessible, safe and secure, benefiting communities and serving the needs of all citizens, including older people and people with disabilities. As well as infrastructure, a range of policy measures that could increase EV uptake will be considered ensuring, for example, wider access to EVs across society.

Irish people are increasingly moving to electric vehicles. There has been an increase in the purchase of EVs in Ireland so far this year, with 21% of new cars licenced being electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles compared with 14% at this time last year. The Government’s EV target is a critical solution to reducing our transport emissions and is a key part of the strategy which also includes measures to reduce car journeys, through improved public and active transport networks.

Speaking about Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, Minister Ryan said:

“We have to transform the way we get around our country so that we do not rely on expensive, carbon emitting and polluting fossil fuels. One of the ways we can help decarbonise our transport sector is by accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles, both passenger cars and the commercial fleet. This new Office will be at the heart of this transformation, charged with supporting consumers, the public sector and businesses to continue to make the switch to electric vehicles and to lead on the delivery of our ambitious target under the Climate Action Plan 2021 to have 945,000 electric vehicles in the Irish fleet by 2030.

We are already seeing that there is an appetite for this switch with the increases in the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles over the past year. I hope that the grants and initiatives we are launching today, along with Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, will make it easier for people and businesses to continue to make the switch and then to be able to charge their cars, no matter where they live.”

Key grants and initiatives launching today

• Launch of the Apartment Charging Grant

Residential charging is the most cost effective and convenient way of charging electric vehicles and is expected to make up 80% of overall charging needs. The EV Apartment Charging grant is being launched today, for dwellings which do not have access to a driveway such as apartments, duplexes as well as mixed developments. Further information can be found here.

• Expansions of the EV Home Charger Grant

The EV Home Charger grant is also being expanded from today. This will enable any tenants and homeowners to apply for a grant, whether they own an EV or not. This can also be used for visitor use or at rented accommodation. Further information can be found on the SEAI page here.

• EV Smart Charger Register

From September 2022 the Home Charger grant will only provide funding for Smart Chargers. This will improve safety, prevent excessive electrical demand and facilitate better integration with renewable energy sources. For manufacturers and installers wishing to register their products please see this page.

Vehicles

• EV Commercial Fleet Trial

A new trial is being launched today to promote and encourage the electrification of the commercial fleet in Ireland. This trial will afford businesses the opportunity to test an EV free of charge for a minimum period of three months. Its purpose is to show, through real world evidence, the benefits, savings and the suitability and viability of EVs in a commercial setting. To apply or to access more information please see SEAI’s website here.

In-progress initiatives

• Destination Charging Grant for Sports Clubs

The Shared Island Sports Club grant will provide funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers in communities nationwide through their local sports clubs subject to certain eligibility criteria. This grant, with funding provided via the Government's Shared Island Fund, will operate on an all-island basis and provide grant funding via National Sports Governing Bodies to eligible sports clubs and centres to help defray the cost of installing publicly accessible EV charge points.

• EV Charging Infrastructure

The draft National EV Strategy underwent public and stakeholder consultation earlier this year, with over 14,000 responses to the online questionnaire along with detailed written submissions received from both individuals and organisations. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation are currently being considered in the development of the final Strategy for publication later this year. The final Strategy will also an Implementation Plan that will set out a pathway for delivery of a high quality national EV charging Infrastructure.

• Re-opening of Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) grant

The aim of the eSPSV grant is to enable owners of small public service vehicles, such as taxis, hackneys and limousines, to buy electric vehicles, championing the electric experience for passengers and drivers in Ireland. Approximately €15m was allocated in 2022 to support SPSVs to switch to electric. The scheme is kept under continuous review and was paused to new applicants in April to allow for the drawdown and payment of provisional grant offers which usually have a time limit of three months. The scheme will now reopen for applications on 1st August 2022 and is managed by the NTA.

• eVans

Expansion of the current electric vans grant to include large panel vans will be announced later this year

Grants are already in place for that

For those with questions about EV grants etc

Then don't buy one or buy one secondhand 🤷‍♂️