ALTERNATIVE ENERGY:A €30 million bio-energy park is to be set up in the south east, it was announced at the National Ploughing Championships in Kilkenny yesterday.
A bio-energy capital group has reached agreement with the Green Energy Service Companies (Gesco) network to build the park, which will be one of the most advanced in the world.
The park will enable new green technology companies, agri-food businesses and leading developers of sustainable products to co-locate and share the benefits of stable energy costs.
It will represent the culmination of four years' research, funded by the seven regional Gescos, and strategic planning by experts in Ireland, Britain, France and the US.
The chosen site will be home to the first of seven regional bio-energy parks planned for across Ireland.
Three areas have been surveyed as the location for the southeast park, but a final selection will not be made until next month.
The project is being funded by direct investment from the Irish Gescos and a mix of equity and debt provision for capital investment from leading technology investment funds.
Also yesterday, the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, announced the creation of 250 new jobs with an investment of €4.3 million by the CF group in its company Sim2Learn.
The company has introduced to Ireland an innovative one-stop shop approach to driver training, instruction, health and safety and fleet training.
It opened its first office in Galway 18 months ago and from there centres in Dublin, Cork, Sligo and Letterkenny have been opened.
With the new investment, it plans to open 30 new centres nationwide over the next six months.
Yesterday, Teagasc, with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and the Department of Agriculture, launched a new DVD on the production and use of energy crops.
Willow and Miscanthus - From Field to Furnace,was presented yesterday and demonstrates to growers and users how particular energy crops can contribute to meeting escalating energy demands.
Teagasc energy crops specialist Barry Caslin said the production gave clear illustrations and narration on planting, crop management, harvesting and storage.
Pearse Buckley, from the SEI biomass programme, said the development of energy crops was critical to the delivery of national bio-energy targets.