"Green" policies are destroying this country

Except the graph does not show we are pretty much bang on average.for electricity prices. The EU average is 0.2192 EUR per KWh. Ireland at 0.2323 is 6% more expensive.

If you compare Ireland to to the 3 countries with more expensive electricity than us, then gas prices do not appear to be the reason.

Germany from Fraunhofer ISE during January - July 2019 electricity generation. . 47.3% Renewables, Natural Gas 9.3%.

Denmark Wind 46.8%. Natural Gas 20%

Ireland. Wind 42%. Natural Gas 52%

Belgium uses very little natural gas for electricity generation so no point in doing comparisons. Of the other two the stand out is that for renewables there is no great difference in percentages, yet they both use a much lesser percentage of natural gas and still have higher electricity prices than Ireland

The German surcharges are specifically so renewables, like wind, can be subsidised. Yes, you can lay those at the wind and solar industries doors.

That still doesn`t really tally for natural gas being the principle reason for electricity prices being higher. Belgium uses little or no natural gas for electricity generation, Denmark has a higher percentage from wind energy than Ireland, but only 20% from natural gas compared to our 52% and is still more expensive than Ireland for electricity.

For Germany I do not see what your point is on a gas fired MWh being far more expensive than renewable generated MWh, unless Germany are using a very very expensive means of producing electricity using natural gas.

Their electricity supply from renewables is 47.3% and 9.3% from natural gas. Ours is 42% from wind and 52% from natural gas. For your natural gas being more expensive to produce than renewables to have the effect on electricity prices you are suggesting, it would have to cost at least 5 times more to produce in Germany than it does in Ireland. Unless German efficiency has really gone to the dogs, I very much doubt that is the case.

As cnocbui has pointed out and as far as I know,those politically determined components such as taxes, levies and surcharges that are adding to the cost of electricity in Germany are in the main to subsidise renewables and have nothing to do with natural gas.

Leagues cheaper than nuclear? Are you serious? Can you back that assertion up?

What are we up against - one clown on a radio?

Link or that never happened! 😂

Nuclear has a levelized cost of $131 - $204 per MWh excluding decommissioning costs.

Onshore wind has a levelized cost of $26 - $50 per MWh. Offshore wind has a median cost of $83.

CCGT is cheaper than both nuclear and offshorewind, but more expensive than onshore wind.

Show me a person who doesnt have to heat their homes or put put bins or buy food or any other goods that need to be transported and i'll show you a person who can avoid taxes by choices.

Let them all out and you'll see what impact it has on crime rates.

No, you do not have to show me a graph where Germany is concerned of the folly of shutting down all it`s nuclear plants by the end of this year in favour of using gas when it comes to energy costs. That is self evident.

On the debate on renewables being done and dusted I would not be so sure. Like many Green concepts when you give them even a cursory look many of them just do not add up. Ireland, Denmark, Germany and Belgium are the four most expensive countries in Europe for electricity. Of the four, Belgium uses little or no gas. For the other three their percentage of electricity from renewables is very similar. Ireland 42%, Denmark 46.8% Germany 47.3%. When it comes to gas their is a much wider disparity. Ireland 52%, Denmark 20%, Germany 9.3% yet very little difference in the price of electricity.

As the Arthur Conan Doyle quote goes, is there not a case to be made for once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Especially as you actually agree with cnocbui that for Germany, with the lowest percentage of gas use, tax levies and surcharges go to supporting renewables.

While 340,000 employed in renewable energy R&D and spin offs in Germany may look impressive, from a population of 83 million it really pales into insignificance compared to the 2016 CSO census that show 265,000 from a population of 5 million in Ireland are employed in the agricultural sector. A sector that Irish Green`s are more than happy attempting to destroy.

Looking a bit of a mess alright, and were Germany not supposed to close all their nuclear plants this year, but perhaps that has changed due to them having a major dip in supply from wind this Winter due to very little wind. Something we tend to be toddling along ignoring based on "sure what harm, won`t French nuclear give us a dig out" when that likelihood is now looking ropey.

Yurt, in the examples I gave you for three of the most expensive countries in Europe for electricity, with gas use being 52%, 20% and 9.3% then there is no correlation between gas and the price. If anything, especially where Germany is concerned, it points more towards taxes and levies to support renewables being the cause.