13/3/03 Announcement of 2002 National Boiler Awards Winners

4 March 2003

Energy authority urges industry to prepare for carbon tax

Ireland can no longer ignore negative impacts of climate change

The Chairman of Sustainable Energy Ireland has today urged industry to prepare to meet the challenge of a changing energy market, which includes the introduction of a tax on all carbon dioxide emitting fuels as part of the government’s National Climate Change Strategy.

Presenting the National Boiler Awards organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland and sponsored by HDS Energy Group, Professor Frank Convery said, “The energy market in Ireland is facing rapid and demanding change including price turbulence due to the prospects of war, deregulation, the introduction of carbon energy taxation after the end of 2004 and the proposed EU wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme by 2005.  The challenge for industry is to prepare for these changes and to ensure that individual firms are using energy efficiently.  This can be achieved through a systematic approach to energy management as well as investment in energy efficient technologies and plant”. 

The companies involved in the National Boiler Awards have already made a significant contribution to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.  In the past year, the reduction in emissions achieved by the competition entrants has exceeded 110,000 tonnes.  Since its inception, over 200 companies have participated in the Boiler Awards and energy savings worth over €25 million have been achieved.

The proposed carbon tax will implement the polluter pays principle by allowing the price of different fuels to reflect their environmental impact, and by ensuring that those who use the most polluting energy pay for the environmental damage they cause.

Peter Brabazon, Head of Department at Sustainable Energy Ireland said, “The proposed tax will result in a greater awareness amongst all energy users of the environmental impacts of their behaviour, and of the choices available to them.  The environmental damage resulting from climate change will affect us all, and it is in the interest of fairness that everyone takes responsibility for their individual and collective impact on the environment”. 

Professor Convery added, “Ireland can no longer ignore the negative impacts of climate change. It is estimated that some 80% of global warming greenhouse gas emissions result from human activity.  In particular, man made energy conversion processes are the leading source of carbon dioxide (CO2) the main global warming gas.  CO2 emissions are produced as a direct result of the energy we use in our daily lives – and the level of energy consumption and therefore emissions in Ireland continues to increase”.

Fossil fuels including oil and petrol are producers of carbon dioxide, which is the gas, which contributes most to Ireland greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable Energy Ireland, formerly the Irish Energy Centre, was established on May 1st, 2002, as a statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy and is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 with programmes part financed by the European Union.

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National Boiler Awards 2002 - Winners

STEAM CATEGORY

Commended:                                                Gallahers, Ballymena, Co. Antrim

Highly Commended:                                   Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, Clonmel,

Co. Tipperary

Winner Small Category:                             Sylvan Ireland, Beechmount

Industrial Estate, Navan, Co. Meath

Winner Large Category:                             Pfizer, Little Island, Co. Cork

Winner Super Large Category:                  ESB – Aghada Generating Station

Whitegate, Co. Cork

HOT-WATER CATEGORY

Commended:                                                Boston Scientific Europe

Model Farm Road, Cork

Highly Commended:                                   Hewlett Packard Manufacturing

Leixlip, Co. Kildare

Winner Category:                                        Intel, Leixlip, Co. Kildare

SERVICE COMPANY CATEGORY

Commended:                                                Lenmac Mechanical Services Ltd.

Limerick

Highly Commended:                                   Boilerhouse Services Ltd – Lisburn

Co. Antrim.

Winner:                                                          South Antrim Boiler Services

Lisburn, Co. Antrim

CHP CATEGORY

Commended:                                                Co-Gen Ltd, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

Highly Commended:                                   Ballyragget Power Ltd

Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny

Commended Small Category:                   Waterford Crystal, Waterford

Winner Large Category:                             G.V. Power Ltd.

Charleville, Co. Cork
 

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner:                                                          Rye Valley Foods, Carrickmacross

Co. Monaghan

Winner:                                                          North Western Health Board, Sligo
 

SYSTEM DESIGN AWARD
Winner:                                                          Monery By Products

Crossdoney, Cavan
 

BOILERPERSON OF THE YEAR

Commended:                                                Des McMahon – Vistakon, Limerick

Highly Commended:                                   David Clere - Numico Infant Nutritional Ltd

Wexford

Winner:                                                          James McGrath – Merck Sharp & Dohme

Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

THE DEFINITIVE BOILERHOUSE AWARD

Winner:                                                          DuPont Ltd, Maydown, Londonderry