Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2009
353 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his timeframe for the adoption of the biofuels obligation scheme for which the public consultation closed in November 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34667/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a Biofuel Obligation, which will underpin delivery of the national biofuel target and which will take full account of EU biofuels legislation. In July the Government approved the draft Heads of Bill for the introduction of the Biofuel Obligation and the priority drafting of the required legislation is currently being progressed. The objective is to introduce the Obligation by mid 2010. The National Biofuels Obligation will also integrate the EU Sustainability Criteria as soon as these are finalised.
354 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a capital grant system for micro wind turbines similar to that in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34700/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this year I announced measures to encourage the on-site generation of electricity from wind turbines and other renewable technologies in homes and farms across Ireland. Among the measures is a guaranteed price of 19 cent per kilowatt hour for electricity produced and exported to the national grid. This feed-in tariff will apply to the first 4,000 microgeneration installations countrywide over the next 3 years. Local generators will have the ability to be paid by ESB for electricity that is surplus to their own requirements and exported back to the grid.
Financial assistance has however been made available to a number of sites which will be studied in field trials in 2009 and 2010. The aim of the trials is to, among other things, collect data on the performance and effectiveness of micro generation in the Irish context. The field trials are intended to assist in resolving certain technical issues including the requirements for qualification and certification of technologies and defining the necessary arrangements for qualification, certification and training of installers.
The purchase of wind turbines by companies became eligible for accelerated capital allowances in September 2009 through Statutory Instrument 393 of 2009. To be eligible for the accelerated capital allowance, the turbines must comply with the eligibility criteria set out in the statutory instrument. In particular, they must have a rating of greater than 5kW and be for the purpose of generation of electricity primarily for on-site use by the company.
