- The Irish Independent outlines that consumers and forecourts alike are hoping for a reduction in petrol and diesel prices, with commentary from CEO of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartlan, considering the recent reductions in crude oil and costs “now at a 14-month low”. The piece however, also noted how carbon tax is due to be hiked on petrol and diesel on Budget day, October 1- this will mean Ireland will have the highest taxes and levies on petrol and diesel in the EU. https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/majority-of-pump-price-made-up-of-levies-calls-for-fuel-price-cuts-as-oil-costs-fall-to-14-month-low/a522577938.html
- Reported by RTé, the State has completed the fourth auction under the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS 4), with the process seeing more than 2GWh of capacity provisionally procured- “enough to power up to half a million homes”. https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0909/1469229-state-completes-latest-renewable-energy-auction/
- The Business Post reports that the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association (Isme), has said in its pre-budget submission that Ireland’s energy regulator should prepare a report explaining why the nation’s energy prices are “so high”, in addition to what can be done to reduce them. https://www.businesspost.ie/news/new-state-led-plan-needed-to-bring-high-irish-energy-costs-down-isme/
- The Irish Times has reported that the Corrib gas field may be repurposed for wind and hydrogen energy farming according to operators Vermilion Exploration and Production Ireland. The gasfield currently contributes to about 20% of Ireland’s annual natural gas demands. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/09/10/corrib-gas-field-could-be-repurposed-for-wind-and-hydrogen-operator-told/
- A regular advice column in The Irish Times surrounding EV’s has outlined the cost difference in insuring electric vehicles versus petrol and diesel cars, stating “EV’s, partly because of the costs associated with their batteries, and because those batteries can only be serviced or repaired by expensive specialist technicians, come with higher insurance loadings”. https://www.irishtimes.com/motors/2024/09/10/are-evs-more-expensive-to-insure-than-other-cars/
- Reported by The Echo, South County Dublin has introduced three new electric vehicles to their fleet, launched by Mayor Baby Pereppadan. This is part of SDCC’s Fleet Decarbonisation strategy to achieve its commitment to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and net zero by 2050. https://www.echo.ie/south-dublin-county-council-goes-electric-with-new-vehicles/
- The Guardian has outlined ten of the best electric vehicles for consumers aside from Tesla, listing the Dacia Spring, Volvo EX30, BMW i3, and Kia EV9 among others. The article details claimed range of the cars, battery size, and lease estimates to aid customers in their choice when switching. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/sep/10/the-10-best-electric-cars-to-buy-if-you-want-to-avoid-tesla
- According to EuroNews, a leaked document has suggested that Hungary wants to abandon the idea of setting a minimum levy on the kerosene that powers their airline industry until 2049, in a bid to “unblock a stalled reform of European energy taxation rules”. Jo Dardenne, lead campaigner at the NGO group of Transport & Environment in Brussels, said the idea was “wildly at odds with the EU’s climate policy targets”. https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/09/09/hungary-slammed-for-absurd-proposal-to-delay-aviation-fuel-levy-until-2049
- Reuters has reported that Vice Commerce Minister Li Fei has said China is willing to engage in dialogue and consultations to address economic and trade frictions to try to ease impending punitive tariffs on China-made electric vehicles. The claims were made at ?a meeting with the European Commission's director general for trade in Brussels earlier in the week. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/china-proposes-negotiations-with-eu-resolve-electric-vehicle-tariff-dispute-2024-09-10/
