Full coverage: Renewable energy

The pieces of the puzzle are coming together to take fossil fuels out of Ireland’s power grid. Like it or not, current policy is not to give ordinary citizens and rural businesses a significant stake in this industry. It would be better to say so upfront.

For the first time in five years, new renewable electricity generation sites have been selected to receive government support, unlocking a new wave of pent-up investment, construction and corporate deals in the sector.

Together with Bertrand Gautier, Paul O'Donnell is Principal of Greencoat Renewables, the listed renewable energy company. They have been on an acquisition spree: twelve wind farm deals since 2017. Here O'Donnell describes Greencoat's long term perspective, the short term impact of Covid-19, and how Ireland hits its 70 per cent renewable energy goal.

In the coming days, the government will unveil the rules of the first renewable electricity support scheme in five years. Overseas capital is lining up to fund Irish environmental projects with billions of euro in energy, waste and forestry.

Brexit and climate change combined looks certain to create problems for Ireland's shared energy supply between the north and the south. The solution? An integrated risk agency.

For businesses, Tuesday’s budget means higher energy taxes, tightening criteria to access green incentives and a slow roll-out of support schemes for renewables.

Three UK businessmen who came to Ireland with a new technology to generate cash from farm waste are brought before the High Court by their creditors.