Launch of the Energy Agreements Programme

Sustainable energy increasingly takes centre stage in the development of economic, environmental and energy policies. We are all aware of the critical issues which are driving us towards a more sustainable economy.

The forthcoming Energy Policy Green paper will set an ambitious agenda for energy over the medium to longer term - with Sustainable Energy as the key over-riding theme. Energy efficiency plays no small part in this.

At the basic level, energy efficiency is common sense and prudent housekeeping but improved energy efficiency means ever better exploitation of available energy.
Reducing the high percentage of wasted energy is a crucial part of the global, EU and Irish energy challenge. As part of the recently published Directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services, Ireland has committed to making every effort to improve energy efficiency by 1% each year over 9 years, (from 2008).

From my time as Minister for the Environment, I am aware that environmentally friendly initiatives where companies can regulate their own behaviour, work extremely well – The continued success of the Repak initiative is just one example of this and if industry embraces the concept of energy efficiency with the same vigour, then much progress can be made.

I am confident that the energy efficiency target can be met, if not exceeded, particularly in the context of our achievements in recent years - sustained economic growth coupled with a reduced level of energy intensity.
Over the past thirteen years, GDP has steadily increased and the gap between economic growth and our total primary energy requirement has widened. For example, in 2004 the economy grew by 4.4% while energy use increased by only 1.4%.

The energy agreements programme will no doubt contribute to the achievement of the energy efficiency target.

The need for companies such as those represented here today to remain competitive in the global market needs no emphasis from me. Effective management of energy can contribute both to reducing costs and maintaining competitiveness.
The considerable savings made by members of the Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) over the past decade demonstrates evidence of the benefits of adopting a strategic approach to energy management. In 2004 alone €20 million in energy costs were avoided.

The Energy Agreements programme is aimed at our largest energy using companies, several of which are already involved with L.I.E.N., now in its eleventh year. This new programme will build on the achievements to date, by requiring firms to work towards certification to the new Irish Standard on energy management, IS 393. In return, SEI will offer participating companies tailor-made support in reaching the standard and in benefiting fully from the process.

The programme will help every player on the team to be a winner and will help meet our Kyoto targets and maintain competitiveness, thus helping to sustain our economy. I would urge all present to fully engage with the process and to take advantage of the specialised support on offer, remembering all the while that we are working towards a common goal.

This Fianna Fáil led Government remains firmly committed to the development and progression of sustainable energy. In the Autumn I intend to launch a major national energy efficiency campaign to persuade all consumers of the benefits of prudent, efficient use of energy. This multi-annual campaign will aim to change behaviour to reduce waste, use more energy-efficient equipment and processes and use energy more wisely.

The ten companies signing up to the programme today are industry leaders in this area and set an excellent example to all sectors. Society as a whole will reap the benefits, which accrue from your combined activities.

I am delighted to sign the football along with the representatives of some of the largest energy users in Irish industry. As Minister, with responsibility for this area, I will publish the first comprehensive Green Paper on Energy Policy in nearly three decades, next month. The Green Paper will set the framework for energy investment and provide an economic environment where your companies can continue to thrive.

I am hugely supportive of the effort of these companies and encourage all major industrial energy users to come on board. SEI has set itself a challenge of having at least another ten signed up by the end of this year and in time the top one hundred.
In conclusion, I wish to commend SEI on the organisation of this initiative and to wish you, the participants every success.

Thank you

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