Bord na Mona to quit harvesting peat for energy use

ON THE BOG: Part of the Bord Na Mona development

Ailish O'Hora Twitter Email

October 05 2015 01:43 PM

BORD na Mona is to phase out the use of peat for energy use by 2030, the company said today.

As a result, the 125,000 acres of bogland that are now being used to provide energy peat to three powerstations will have different uses by that date.

The move is part of Bord na Mona's transition to new sustainable businesses.

Bord na Mona’s Sustainability 2030 Report, it will involve changes to how thousands of acres of Irish bog are used including the provision of new biodiverse habitats as well as eco-tourism.

Chief executive Mike Quinn said: "For the last eight decades we have underpinned Ireland’s energy security by supplying peat from Irish bogs to powerstations.

“By 2030 we will cease harvesting energy peat but we will be making sure those 125,000 acres do more.

“We will use the land to continue to underpin Ireland’s energy independence only now we will be using green sustainable energy sources such as wind, biomass and solar power,” he said.

Bord na Mona Chairman, John Horgan, said: “The task of reorienting Bord na Mona from being nearly solely focused on energy peat into other business areas has been going on for some time.