Northern Ireland faces two major environmental challenges...

Sustainable energy sourcing

Using renewable energy technologies can help contribute to a clean and secure energy future for the world through reducing carbon emissions and preserving our natural resources. Faced with world oil shortages, it is vital that Northern Ireland devises economically and technologically viable energy solutions. Northern Ireland is obligated to generate 12% of its electricity from indigenous renewable sources by 2012. Northern Ireland has a plentiful supply of two biomass fuels sources - poultry bedding and MBM - both by-products of our agri-food industry. These are already used successfully as green fuels in biomass power plants in the UK.
Preventing water pollution
Northern Ireland faces a major challenge in reducing soil and water pollution. This is a particular problem here due to geographical constraints and our high dependency on agriculture. Our agri-food sector employs around 80,000 people and has an output of over £3.5 billion. The EU Nitrates Directive, which came into force in January 2007, is concerned with the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. Poultry bedding is particularly high in nitrates and phosphates. This has traditionally been used as a fertiliser by farmers, but this practice will now be limited and regulated. Whilst these measures to reduce water pollution are crucial to improve our water quality, the restrictions place a considerable burden on our farmers, who must now find an alternative for disposing of the waste. Landfill is not an option, as the government faces an obligation to reduce waste going to landfill to 50% of 1995 levels by 2013 under the EU Landfill Directive. Our poultry sector, which employs over 7,000 people, faces an uncertain future unless we come up with another use for poultry bedding.

Rose Energy offers a practical and sustainable solution to two major environmental challenges by delivering up to one third of Northern Ireland’s renewable energy obligation and preventing pollution and preserving our water quality.

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