A Comparison of Studies Conducted in Wales and Ireland on Issues Affecting Uptake of Micro-Generation Training

In 2007 Irvine and Stafford [1] surveyed the attitude to the need for enhanced renewable education within groups of Electricians, Architects and Chemists in Wales. Similar groups were surveyed in Ireland in 2008. In comparing the attitudes of students in these two countries the principal differences are governmental support for microgeneration, the quantity of installed microgeneration and the year of the survey. The two countries are broadly similar in terms of geography, climate, population size, ethnicity, broadcast media, educational achievements, economy and income spread. In Ireland there is greater support for governmental intervention and for increased levels of installation. This could be a reaction to the very low level of activity that prevails in Ireland. The rapid changes during 2008 in economic outlook and in Climate Change consensus may have impacted on the responses. In many areas addressed in the survey the disciplines adopted a consensus position that superseded the national differences.