Europe getting aggressive on smart grid renewables

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Northern Ireland hopes it can quadruple the amount of electricity that comes from renewables to 40% by 2020. Ambitious? Certainly. But Scotland says it can do better: 100% by 2025. Oneupmanship? You bet. Scotland has a renewables goal of 80%, but a Scottish minister recently said the country has more than enough resources to get all of its power from renewables, and more than enough to eventually become a clean energy exporter. Northern Ireland's government approved its goal, which is expected to cost about US$1.58 billion, certainly a strain considering the state of the economy, government officials admit. The Emerald Isle has a more immediate goal of 12% renewables by 2012 and believes that integrating more renewables is necessary to fight climate change and maintain a secure supply of electricity. The details for either program aren't set in stone yet.

Quick Take: The race is on, but it's worth noting that Portugal's extremely aggressive renewable energy program has faced economic and financial repercussions, as well as a citizenry hopping mad about higher utility bills.

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