A pledge by Eamon Ryan to ramp up solar energy to power the country by 2025 would be “nothing more than a throwaway soundbite” without a €1bn financial package to support the sector, a lobby group has stated.The Micro Renewable Energy Federation (MREF) was reacting to the environment minister’s claim that “by 2025, there will be sunny afternoons when we are generating enough solar electricity to power the entire country”.There has been a broad welcome from renewable energy bodies to the minister’s pledge for 5,000 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity by the time this Government finishes its term, but the MREF was cautious.MREF chairman Pat Smith said Ireland is at least a decade behind other European countries in the rollout of solar PV technology. He added that Government commitment is long overdue.Solar panels being added to a house roof Picture: iStock“While Minister Ryan’s…
€1bn needed to make Ryan’s solar energy pledge a reality, says industry body
