Isra-Mart srl: British Isles to combine renewable energy efforts

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An All Islands Approach to energy was agreed by ministers from the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man at a meeting of the British Irish Council.

The agreement will encourage developers to explore commercial opportunities for renewable energy generation and increase energy trading between nations.

Energy minister Charles Hendry said: "There is a massive potential source of clean, green, secure energy that remains untapped in the Irish Sea and onshore in Ireland, as well as around the Channel Islands.

"But because Ireland’s energy demand is only slightly larger than that of Yorkshire and Humberside, there has been little incentive to exploit the resource.

"More interconnection between the islands would mean that on, for instance, a very windy day in mainland Britain, surplus power could be sold to Ireland and mainland Europe, as well as enabling imports of electricity from Ireland and mainland Europe when required."