Set off the north coast of the Northern Ireland in the Atlantic, scenic Rathlin Island has embraced modernity in fits and starts.
It only joined Northern Ireland's electric grid in 2007, but already the locals are hoping to wean themselves off the mainland supplies, turning to renewables and using the wild surrounding wind and waves in a push to go carbon neutral by 2030.
The 155 residents of Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island hope that green energy transformation can put them at the forefront of adaptation to climate change across the British Isles.
Inspired by its progress so far, the island is hoping to send a delegation to Cop26 in Glasgow to share its vision.
Michael Cecil, chairman of the Rathlin Development and Community Association, has been spearheading the initiative. He said the climate agenda had given new purpose to a rocky outcrop where the population dwindled to 70 two decades ago.
“We are hopefully going to Cop26 with one of our renewable partners so we can showcase what we are doing to the world,” Mr Cecil told The National.
We have a dream to do an awful lot in Rathlin
Michael Cecil,
chairman of the Rathlin Development and Community Association
With thousands of pounds of backing recently granted from Northern Ireland's government, the plans for a renewables push took a big step closer to becoming a reality.
“We have a dream to do an awful lot in Rathlin,” Mr Cecil said. “Our community group has been active since the mid-70s lobbying for better services – the islanders are all very passionate and forward thinking.
“Once we were connected to the grid we started looking at wind energy, from there it showed there was a real desire in the community to protect the environment.
“With the climate crisis we wanted to look for alternative technologies to tackle our carbon emissions. If we can decarbonise our housing stock, transport and ferries we are most of the way there.
“To be carbon neutral in 10 years is not that ambitious as the technology is there and our plan is to generate our own green energy.”
Ferries are responsible for more than 50 per cent of the island's carbon emissions
A recent study on the island revealed its two diesel ferries are responsible for a substantial amount of its carbon emissions.
They are now planning to trial swapping the ferries’ diesel engines for hydrogen.
Hydrogen has already been used to fuel buses in London, England, and Aberdeen, Scotland, and the island is working with a company to adapt the technology to ferries.
Last month Norway took delivery of the world’s first fuel cell-powered ferry which is expected to reduce its annual carbon emissions by up to 95 per cent.
Mr Cecil is a skipper on one of the ferries and is eager to pioneer the initiative.
“We are going to trial hydrogen-fuelled ferries. It is already used on buses and they use the same engines as our ferries,” he said.
“We are not far away from making this a reality now. They are responsible for more than 50 per cent of the island’s carbon footprint.
“It is all about raising awareness in local government and globally so more money is pumped into this technology.”
Rathlin will trial Northern Ireland’s first electric bike and car share scheme
In the next few months, Rathlin is also set to trial Northern Ireland’s first electric bike and car share scheme.
It is not the first time the island has been leading the way in sustainability. In 2013, Kate Burns set up Islander Rathlin Kelp in a bid to use kelp production to regenerate coastal and island communities.
It is the only place in Europe which seeds, harvest and processes kelp.
“It’s our ambition to spread our knowledge throughout other coastal communities, to give other islands the chance to grow and process kelp using our techniques,” she said.
She is hoping to create a kelp network to help “to keep islands anywhere in the world, alive and thriving".
Northern Ireland’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots, visited the island to see its vision first-hand.
“I admire Rathlin’s strong ambition to reduce emissions and become carbon neutral, this is aligned to my vision for green growth and climate action and I very much welcome the Island’s efforts to realise this goal,” he said.
Working with Cork and Galway University, researchers are presently conducting a study to examine all the renewable options available to the island’s households and businesses.
“Once the report is ready we hope we will then get investment to make it happen,” Mr Cecil said.
“We are then hoping to trial wind, tidal and wave energy.”
Rathlin Island to pitch carbon neutral initiative at Cop26
“We want to tell our community story to big businesses and show them we are making a difference on the ground. We would like to become a mini global renewables hub and hopefully by telling our story at Cop26 we will attract some interest,” Mr Cecil said.
“In the community there is a strong desire to set an example to the world and show it can be done and hopefully we will inspire people in the rest of the world to follow suit.
"We believe if we can do it, so can everyone else.”
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Company%20Profile
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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On sale: Now
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
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Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
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THE%20SPECS
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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