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APRIL 2012 ARTICLES
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Energy
Prices in Ireland
There is a perception that energy prices in Ireland are high and
that this has an adverse impact on competitiveness. In this article we examine the evidence
on how Ireland’s gas, electricity and transport fuel prices compare when
benchmarked against those in other European countries.
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EU ETS Phase 3
The implementation
of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the 2013-2020 compliance period
will entail the allocation of significantly fewer emissions allowances to
several sectors than had been the case for the 2008-2012 period.
More…
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Sustainability Criteria for Biofuels
A new statutory
instrument requires that the petroleum suppliers obligated under the Biofuel Obligations Act must demonstrate that the biofuels they place on the market meet specific
criteria on carbon and sustainability – by July of this year.
More…
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Certification for High Efficiency CHP
In March 2012 the
Commission for Energy Regulation published its decision on the
certification process for high
efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) plants under the
Cogeneration Directive (2004/8/EC).
We examine some of the key elements of this Decision.
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Regulation of Natural Gas
Interconnectors
The Commission for Energy Regulation recently issued a proposed
decision regarding the regulation of natural gas interconnectors in Ireland, which
has important implications in the context of potential new entry points
for natural gas.
More…
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‘Seveso III’ Directive
The new Globally Harmonised System for classifying dangerous
substances will have implications for any legislation which draws on the
Dangerous Substances Directive, including the proposed new COMAH or ‘Seveso III’ Directive.
More…
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Electrical Installations in Explosive Atmospheres
The
Electro-Technical Council of Ireland’s (ETCI) latest edition of ET 105 National Rules for Electrical
Installations in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres has been developed
to reflect recent publications and standards on explosive atmospheres, as
well as changes in health and safety legislation.
More…
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New
AER Reporting Requirements
From 2013 onwards,
the Environmental Protection Agency proposes to implement new
arrangements for the operators of IPPC licensed facilities to submit
their Annual Environmental Reports (AER) and Pollutant Release and
Transfer Registers (PRTR).
More…
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New EPA Guidance for Noise
The Environmental
Protection Agency’s recently published draft Guidance Note for Noise: Licence
Applications, Surveys and Assessments in Relation to Scheduled Activities
(NG4) has important implications for the
regulation of noise at IPPC and waste licensed facilities.
More…
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FEBRUARY 2011 ARTICLES
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Biofuel Obligation Scheme
As
part of Ireland’s strategy to increase the proportion of energy from
renewable sources, the Biofuel Obligation Scheme (BOS) was introduced in
July 2010. The BOS places a duty on oil companies to ensure that minimum
quantities of biofuel are placed on the market.
More…
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New Industrial Emissions Directive
The EC recently recast a
number of existing Directives, covering emissions from industrial and
waste operations, into a new Directive
on Industrial Emissions (Integrated
Pollution Prevention and Control) (2010/75/EC).
More…
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Shale Gas: A “Game-Changer” for Gas Supply?
The supply outlook for natural gas in the USA has
been transformed by the emergence of shale gas. We examine this and discuss potential
implications for Europe.
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Globally Harmonised System for Dangerous Substances
The new Globally Harmonised
System for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
is replacing the current Dangerous Substances and Dangerous Preparations
Directives. The new system will
apply globally and this harmonisation will result in changes to the
classifications of some materials, which could impact on the COMAH / ‘Seveso’ status of some sites.
More…
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Air Dispersion
Modelling
Air Dispersion Modelling is an
important tool in assessing the potential impacts of process emissions on
the quality of the environment. It
can also be used to assess the impacts of accidental releases from
buildings, assisting in facility siting studies and in developing
appropriate response plans.
More…
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Environmental Liability Regulations
The
EPA recently published new guidance on the implementation of the Environmental
Liability Regulations.
More…
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NOVEMBER 2009 ARTICLES
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How
Much Will a Carbon Tax Cost?
It
is widely anticipated that the forthcoming budget will introduce a Carbon
Tax. In its September 2009 report
the Commission on Taxation put forward a variety of recommendations on
how a Carbon Tax should be implemented, including a recommendation on an
appropriate rate.
More…
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Potential for CHP in Ireland
Sustainable
Energy Ireland (SEI) recently published a reported prepared by Byrne Ó Cléirigh
on the potential for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) in Ireland.
More…
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Land Use Planning in the Vicinity of COMAH Sites
The Health & Safety
Authority has recently produced a new guidance document on how land use
planning decisions will be made in the vicinity of COMAH / Seveso
establishments.
More…
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Process Safety: SIL-based Systems
Electrical or electronic
items of equipment can form important elements of process safety
systems. It is important that such
equipment is suitable for its purpose and that the overall safety system
can provide an appropriate level of protection to ensure that the risk is
kept as low as reasonably practicable.
More…
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Energy Performance in Buildings
The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings
(EPBD) contains a range of provisions aimed at improving the
energy performance of residential and non-residential buildings, both
new-build and existing.
More…
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Environmental Liabilities Regulations
The recent Environmental
Liability Regulations go further than the ‘polluter pays’ principle:
operators are also liable for taking preventative actions if their activities
cause an imminent threat of environmental damage.
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APRIL 2009 ARTICLES
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Security of Ireland’s Access to Commercial Oil
Supplies
The
Irish Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources has
recently published a report on a major study of Ireland’s
commercial oil supplies.
The
study was carried out by Byrne Ó Cléirigh in partnership with the London office of
Purvin & Gertz.
More…
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The Buncefield Incident: Investigation Board Report
Following the Vapour Cloud
Explosions (VCE) at Buncefield, Hertfordshire,
UK in
2005 there is a requirement for operators of bulk oil storage
facilities to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to prevent
a similar incident occurring at their sites.
The Board of the Buncefield Investigation issued their final report in
December 2008. While work is still
underway to further investigate the mechanism behind the explosion, there
is now sufficient information in place to allow operators to conduct
assessments of the risk of similar incidents at their facilities.
More…
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The REACH Regulation
The
European REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction
of Chemicals) applies to all chemical substances which are manufactured,
imported, placed on the market or used within the European Union, either on their own, in a preparation or in an article.
The
European Chemical Agency has recently published a list of the
pre-registered substances under the REACH Regulation.
More…
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