Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 2

Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Projects.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

126 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will consider granting additional contracts for renewable wind energy for those operators who provide a bid price under the indicative bid price set in the AER 6 programme in view of the fact that many of the wind projects likely to be awarded contracts may not go to construction due to problems in getting a transmission connection or the other implementing difficulties experienced under the AER 5 programme. [16008/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The European Commission has determined that the AER programme involves the payment of state aid to the generators of electricity supported by the programme and has approved the AER scheme in that context. I must ensure that the contracts awarded under AER V and AER VI do not exceed the quantity approved by the Commission. The combined capacity value of contracts awarded at any time, therefore, cannot exceed 500 megawatts in aggregate in the biomass, hydro and onshore wind categories. In addition, a Commission decision is awaited for 50 megawatts in the offshore wind category and 28 megawatts in the biomass CHP category.

The creation of a reserve list and constant monitoring of applications for connections to the electricity network should ensure failing projects can be quickly withdrawn and the capacity re-allocated to ensure the overall targets are delivered by 2005.