2008 | Leinster | Level 1
Niall McManus
ReEnPower
For Niall McManus, an exploration geologist who has worked across the globe, two things have always been apparent: The need to live within our limited resources, and people’s need to improve their own lives. Niall believes that the first step to economic empowerment is provision of electrical power.
Niall’s project is ReEnPower, an investment fund for R&D into small-scale renewable energy technologies. These technologies will benefit communities both in Ireland and the developing world. The technology will be developed by Irish firms where possible and would be made affordable by methods such as micro-finance. The fund will minimize profits to guarantee low cost products.
Small-scale renewable energy gives communities the opportunity to manage limited resources, generate an income and, in the Developing World, provides the essential first step to economic empowerment. A successful renewable energy industry will be good for Ireland Inc. too, fostering the knowledge economy, employment and exports.
“1.6 billion people have no access to electricity. They are a potential market for cheap renewable energy that is not dependent on a national grid.”
www.ReEnPower.org
