Can you still burn peat in Ireland?

Can you still burn peat in Ireland?

Bord na Móna, which supplies peat to the three remaining power stations burning it for electricity, announced in October that it would cut its peat supply for electricity by a third by 2020 and end it completely by 2027. Ireland will need to find alternative, lower carbon sources of electricity.

Is peat banned in Ireland?

Horticultural peat harvesting has ceased in Ireland since September 2019, following a High Court ruling. The depleted supplies of Irish peat and the ban on harvesting is placing 17,000 jobs across Ireland’s horticultural sector at risk.

Is peat still used as fuel?

These stacks of peat (also called turf) have been harvested from a bog in Ireland. They will be dried and sold as bricks for heating. Peat is the “forgotten fossil fuel.” While oil, coal, and natural gas are exported around the world, few outside northern Europe are aware of this energy source.

Can you still cut peat?

While technically free to those who have the right to cut it, the labour involved in cutting and collecting the peat is not to be under-estimated. Althought it may look somewhat random, the cutting of the peat is highly organised.

Why is Bord na Mona closing?

Bord na Móna has formally ended all peat harvesting on its lands following a landmark High Court judgment in 2019. The company suspended peat harvesting last year following the court’s ruling that all peat harvesting on bogs larger than 30 hectares required planning permission.

Does Ireland import peat?

In 2021 to date, 42,800 tonnes of peat valued at €7.3m has been imported into Ireland. It said: “The imported peat has an obvious environmental impact… compared to harvesting Irish peat, as well as a direct higher cost for Irish horticultural growers, and the 17,000 jobs that depend on the sector.”

How much peat is left in Ireland?

Blanket bogs Between 13.8 and 17\% of Irish land area is peatland. Only ~28\% of blanket bogs in the Republic of Ireland remain in a relatively intact condition (38) due to peat extraction, drainage and forest plantation.

What is peat called in Ireland?

turf
Peat is commonly known by the Irish as ‘turf’ and has been harvested for centuries by a method known as ‘cutting. ‘ Peat has been an invaluable source of heat and energy throughout history in Ireland.

Why is there so much peat in Ireland?

Peat is formed by the accumulation of decayed vegetation over thousands of years. In their intact form peat bogs remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and globally they store twice as much carbon as all the forests of the world combined.

What will replace briquettes in Ireland?

biomass briquettes
Peat briquettes, a popular winter fuel in many homes, will be replaced by biomass briquettes.

Are briquettes going to be banned in Ireland?

From 2022 the following new standards for solid fuels will apply in Ireland: Coal, coal-based products, any manufactured solid fuel or peat briquettes will be required to have a smoke emission rate of less than 10g/hour, reducing to 5g/hr by 2025.

Where does Ireland get its peat from?

In 2021 to date, 42,800 tonnes of peat valued at €7.3m has been imported into Ireland. The vast majority came in from Northern Ireland, followed by the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus.

What is Irish peat?

Irish peat has been utilized as a fuel source for centuries. With a wonderful aroma and long, hot burn, it remains popular today. Learn more about Irish peat. Peat is commonly known by the Irish as ‘turf’ and has been harvested for centuries by a method known as ‘cutting.’

What happened to Ireland’s peatlands?

When the semi-state company that harvests Ireland ’s peatlands recently announced the closure of 17 bogs, the news was greeted as the end of an era.

Is peat wood still popular today?

With a wonderful aroma and long, hot burn, it remains popular today. Learn more about Irish peat. Peat is commonly known by the Irish as ‘turf’ and has been harvested for centuries by a method known as ‘cutting.’ Peat has been an invaluable source of heat and energy throughout history in Ireland.

What is the history of peat?

Peat has been an invaluable source of heat and energy throughout history in Ireland. It was found to be a useful alternative to firewood for cooking and heating throughout Ireland and other parts of the European continent. Harvested from the bogs scattered throughout the Irish landscape, peat forms over time from decaying vegetation.