A century ago, a newly-independent Ireland began a hugely ambitious project to supply almost all of the country’s electricity needs using renewable energy: the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station on the River Shannon.
On this episode, Dr Paul Deane, Senior Lecturer in Clean Energy Futures at University College Cork, sits down with host Meghann Scully to look at this remarkable achievement. Ardnacrusha is, as he argues, a testament to what we can do, what we have done, and what we could do.
Paul is fascinated not just with the history of Ardnacrusha but with the relevance it has today. When the power station was built, we were looking to a renewable energy source to replace fossil fuels and improve energy security and sustainability. A century later, we are at exactly the same juncture. Paul shares his expertise on the future of clean energy and while he is positive about the future, he recognises the huge challenges we face as a country and as a planet.
