What are the viable alternative fuels that could be used in transport?
A study by the National Board for Science and Technology was commissioned by the Department of Industry and Energy with a view to shaping energy policy.
It establishes the possibility of alternative fuels such as liquid petroleum gas [LPG], compressed natural gas, electricity and alcohol derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oil and hydrogen to increase.
Energy security and self-sufficiency in the Irish transport sector.
The report concludes that oil is guaranteed to remain Ireland's primary source of transport fuel until the next century, but alternative fuels could also have a small stake in the market.
The oil crisis of 1973 and petrol shortages of 1979 are still fresh in the public's memory but thankfully Ireland’s energy sector has improved since then, says Hugh Finlay, one of the report’s co-authors.
It is still not as secure as it could be however, and Ireland needs to plan for the future,
If there’s some international disruption...we could find ourselves in great difficulty.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 January 1983. The reporter is Carroll McHugh.
