A presenter led documentary series on the history and future of one of the most pressing issues facing Ireland and the world – energy policy.
It is surprising how little Irish people really know about one of the most pressing issues facing every individual on the planet. But how did this ever-evolving crisis come about, where does Ireland stand and what role will Ireland and the Irish people play in the future of energy practise and policy? This series is designed to localise and dramatise all the statistics and buzzwords that have been flying around the media over the last few years.
In each episode Diarmuid will tour the length and breadth of the country investigating one potential alternative energy source, the contemporary make-up of one particular energy source, the dramatic chronology of global energy policy, as well as reporting on the ever-growing and catastrophic effects of global warming. He will also follow the stories of ordinary individuals going about their daily grind in order to showcase the often-negative affects each person can have, simply by living their lives.
Episode 1 – Diarmuid begins his odyssey at Ardnacrusha, after a dramatic introduction designed to highlight the immediate importance of this issue for every Irish person. This week he will be dealing specifically with hydroelectricity as a viable alternative.
He talks to all the main players in the industry and visits the Galway Bay Wave Energy Test Site to view the scaled prototype and see how easily Ireland could tap into the richest wave energy climate in the world.He then presents a report on the early evolution of global energy history from the Industrial Revolution to the introduction of the first motorcars. He also shows how our present system of mass pollution evolved in parallel.
Next, Diarmuid tags along with a mother of three as she goes about her daily life, highlighting the energy she is using (often unnecessarily) and the pollution she is creating, while also giving her options to change the damage she is doing. He looks at the current problems of our coal industry, begins his Top Ten Energy Saving Tips and Products for homes and businesses, and visits some local hydroelectric schemes.
Finally he lets the audience know that all the information, suggestions and contacts listed on the show are available on the website, along with various other polls, FAQ,s, links, games and features on the future of energy policy for all the family.
Episode 2 – Diarmuid looks at the huge advantages provided by solar power, tags along with various commuters, and visits The Village project in Tipperary to see how one community hopes to build itself entirely around the ideal of sustainable living. In historical terms, he looks at the rise of the motorcar and the expansion of the oil industry in the early 20th century, and investigates the contemporary make-up of Ireland’s peat industry.
Episode 3 – Diarmuid investigates Ireland’s oil addiction, as well as conflicts brought about by the global oil addiction and the rise of nuclear power post 1945. He concentrates primarily on the inexhaustible wind option for Ireland, follows a group of truck-drivers and taxi-men and showcases the work of those dedicated individuals at Sustainable Ireland.
Episode 4 – He dedicates the final episode to all of the other alternative options available, from wood and bio energy to CHP from sewage, Geothermal and landfill gas, and investigates the future of Ireland’s gas resources. He looks at the massive problems inherent in today’s global energy industries, from conflict creation, global warming and environmental damage. He also highlights the great potential in the Powerdown Project and visits Feasta, the foundation for economic sustainability.
Diarmuid will complete his list of energy saving tips and products, and draw up his models of the best and worst possible outcomes of Ireland’s energy policy in 50 years based on his investigations. It is up to the people at home to decide which model their children and grandchildren will have to live within.
The series over-all is designed to show how all of these disparate issues and events are inextricably intertwined and that change will have to happen at all levels in order to evolve a sustainable global society.
[...] The Big Energy Question 2 [...]