Ireland is throwing away peat(泥炭) for energy and turning to wind.
Peat has a lot to recommend it. It sends off a pleasant smell when burned. It is a cheap source of energy; at its simplest it needs no more than digging by hand. But peat is also one of the dirtiest fuels available, emitting 23% more carbon dioxide than coal.
Ireland is unusual among developed countries in burning it for energy. Peat has been used on the island for at least 1,000 years. But it may at last be on its way out as Ireland turns to another energy source of which it has unlimited quantities: wind.
Galway Wind Park will be Ireland's largest wind farm when it is completed, producing 169MW of power at peak capacity(容量), or about 3% of Ireland's average needs. It is only the latest development in Irish wind power, which has tripled in the last decade to more than 3GW of capacity. The renewable resource now provides a quarter of the electricity Ireland consumes every year.
Eirgrid, a state-owned company which manages the grid(电网 ) in both Northern Ireland and the Republic, says much more wind capacity is in the planning stages. Wind is difficult to manage because it is unpredictable, even on the shores with strong winds of western Ireland. Since wind turbines (涡轮机)do not turn consistently, the grid must be carefully tuned to keep it stable.
Eirgrid is planning a set of wires to continental Europe.
A report from SEAI, Ireland's energy authority, suggests that the island could produce enough wind electricity to match domestic demand by 2030, with more left over to export. Bord na Móna, the body responsible for developing Ireland's peatlands, has said it will stop using peat for electricity by the same year.
1. Which of the following statements about peat is right?
A.Peat is a cheap and clean source of energy with a pleasant smell. |
B.Peat in Ireland will be an export. |
C.Ireland will stop using peat as fuel. |
D.Peat is renewable and will never be used up. |
2. What is the greatest difficulty in using wind energy?
A.The wind power is not strong enough |
B.It is a high-cost project. |
C.The wind power is unstable. |
D.It won’t produce enough electricity. |
3. What can be the best title for the passage?
A.The Change of Using energy in Ireland |
B.Stop Using Out-Of-Date Energy |
C.Peat vs Wind Power |
D.Ireland: A Country Using Wind Power |