Submission to Draft Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 on behalf of Davy Platform ICAV (Ireland) and Kildare Innovation Campus, Leixlip, regarding Ancillary Energy Facilities for Industrial Development and the Use of Carbon Credits

Davy Platform ICAV (Ireland) has retained Tom Phillips + Associates (“TPA”) to make this submission in respect of the Draft Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 (KDP), as opened for public consultation for a period up to the 24th May 2022.

Facing increases in the demands for energy, further industrial development may have to rely on the ancillary auto-generation of energy on-site using a mixture of renewable energy generation and the consistent supply of power from conventional Natural Gas ancillary energy facilities. The use of Carbon Credits could 100% offset emissions from gas-fired ancillary energy facilities and contribute to lowering emissions globally.

Furthermore, the installation of ancillary energy facilities that are capable of using both conventional gas fuels and other fuels that are not yet commercially widespread (e.g. biogas, hydrogen) would future proof industrial development for the transition to a carbon neutral economy. The approach of 100% offsetting the use of conventional gas fuels in these facilities using Carbon Credits ensures that the intermediate stage of this transition is Carbon Neutral. The purchased Carbon Credits could also play their part in investing in the required hydrogen/biogas/other infrastructure, hastening the transition to these fuels.

We seek to amend the Draft Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 to provide certainty that further industrial development can avail of this approach.