Editing Ireland (section)

====Energy====
{{Main|Energy in Ireland}}
Although for most of their existence electricity networks in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were entirely separate, the island has operated for some time as a single market for electricity.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sem-o.com/AboutSEMO/Pages/default.aspx |title= About SEMO: The Single Electricity Market |publisher= Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) |access-date= 13 January 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101130095246/http://www.sem-o.com/AboutSEMO/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date= 30 November 2010 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Both networks were designed and constructed independently post-partition but they are now connected with three interlinks<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.cer.ie/en/electricity-transmission-network-interconnection.aspx |title= Interconnection |publisher= Commission for Energy Regulation |date= 28 January 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110128172244/http://www.cer.ie/en/electricity-transmission-network-interconnection.aspx |archive-date= 28 January 2011 |access-date= 30 March 2010}}</ref> and are also connected through Great Britain to mainland Europe. The situation in Northern Ireland is complicated by the issue of private companies not supplying [[Northern Ireland Electricity]] with enough power. In the Republic of Ireland, the [[ESB Group|ESB]] has failed to modernise its power stations, and the availability of power plants has recently averaged only 66%, one of the worst such rates in Western Europe. [[EirGrid]] has started building a [[High-voltage direct current|HVDC]] transmission line between Ireland and Great Britain with a capacity of 500 MW,<ref>{{cite web |title= Interconnection: East-West Interconnector |publisher= [[EirGrid]] |url= http://www.eirgridgroup.com/customer-and-industry/interconnection/ |access-date= 19 September 2016 |archive-date= 22 February 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200222225018/http://www.eirgridgroup.com/customer-and-industry/interconnection/ |url-status= live }}</ref> about 10% of Ireland's peak demand.

As with electricity, the natural gas distribution network is also now all-island, with a pipeline linking [[Gormanston, County Meath]], and [[Ballyclare]], County Antrim.<ref>{{cite web |date= 1 November 2007 |title= Bord Gáis Marks Completion of South-North Pipeline |publisher= [[Bord Gáis]] |url= http://www.bordgais.ie/corporate/index.jsp?a=1427&n=179&p=180 |access-date= 27 May 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052102/http://www.bordgais.ie/corporate/index.jsp?a=1427&n=179&p=180 |archive-date= 29 May 2014}}</ref> Most of Ireland's gas comes through interconnectors between [[Twynholm]] in Scotland and [[Ballylumford power station|Ballylumford]], County Antrim and [[Loughshinny]], County Dublin. Supplies come from the Corrib Gas Field, off the coast of County Mayo, with a supply previously also coming from the Kinsale gas field off the County Cork coast.<ref>{{cite web |title= Northern Ireland Energy Holdings – Frequently Asked Questions |publisher= Northern Ireland Energy Holdings |url= http://www.nienergyholdings.com/FAQs/Index.php |access-date= 8 May 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110714182024/http://www.nienergyholdings.com/FAQs/Index.php |archive-date= 14 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title= Gas Capacity Statement 2007 |publisher= [[Commission for Energy Regulation]] | url= http://www.cer.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=d9f0b11e-3a13-42bb-86b7-f7470a9c68cc |access-date=8 May 2009 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120305041104/http://www.cer.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=d9f0b11e-3a13-42bb-86b7-f7470a9c68cc |pages= 22, 24, 26}}</ref> The County Mayo field faces some localised opposition over [[Corrib gas controversy|a controversial decision]] to refine the gas onshore.

[[File:Maam Cross turf-cutting geograph-3178833-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|Turf-cutting near [[Maam Cross]] by the road to Leenane, County Galway]]
Ireland has an ancient industry based on [[peat]] (known locally as "turf") as a source of energy for home fires. A form of [[biomass]] energy, this source of heat is still widely used in rural areas. However, because of the ecological importance of peatlands in storing carbon and their rarity, the EU is attempting to protect this habitat by fining Ireland for digging up peat. In cities, heat is generally supplied by natural gas or [[heating oil]], although some urban suppliers distribute sods of turf as "smokeless fuel" for domestic use.

The Republic has a strong commitment to renewable energy and ranks as one of the top 10 markets for [[clean technology|clean-technology]] investment in the 2014 Global Green Economy Index.<ref name=ggei>{{cite web |title= 2014 Global Green Economy Index |url= http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |publisher= Dual Citizen LLC |access-date= 20 October 2014 |archive-date= 28 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141028201432/http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> Research and development in [[renewable energy]] (such as [[wind power]]) has increased since 2004. Large [[List of wind farms in the Republic of Ireland|wind farms have been constructed]] in Cork, Donegal, Mayo and Antrim. The construction of wind farms has in some cases been delayed by opposition from local communities, some of whom regard the [[wind turbine]]s as unsightly. The Republic is hindered by an ageing network that was not designed to handle the varying availability of power that comes from wind farms. The ESB's [[Turlough Hill]] facility is the only power-storage facility in the state.<ref>{{cite web |title= Options For Future Renewable Energy Policy, Targets And Programmes issued by Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |publisher= Hibernian Wind Power Ltd |date= 27 February 2004 | url= http://www.hibernianwindpower.ie/hiberwindresponse_dcmnr.pdf |access-date= 11 November 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120317020157/http://www.hibernianwindpower.ie/hiberwindresponse_dcmnr.pdf |archive-date= 17 March 2012}}</ref>