asked the Minister for Transport and Power the Government's policy on the employment of district heating schemes; and the incentives offered to encourage the use of such schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - District Heating Schemes.
25.
It is Government policy to encourage conservation in the use of energy. District heating represents a potential means of achieving efficiency and economy in the use of energy and I am interested, therefore, in seeing studies undertaken to establish whether the savings potentially available are economically achievable in our circumstances.
Among the factors which affect the situation are the capital costs, the design and location of existing or future generating stations, the present heating systems in areas which might be considered, the cost and feasibility of converting them and the question of freedom of choice of heating systems by the owners of the buildings which might be affected.
The Electricity Supply Board in 1975 published the results of a preliminary study which they had carried out on the possibilities of adopting a combined district heating system utilising rejected heat. The preliminary study did not reach definite conclusions about the feasibility or economics of introducing such a system in Ireland. The board are now carrying out further detailed examination to establish the extent to which such a system can be adopted.
The District Heating Association of Ireland has also organised a number of meetings designed to inform all the interests concerned and the public in general of the possibilities of district heating and to promote the concept of district heating.
I have been keeping in close touch with developments in this area and will continue to do so.
Could the Minister state whether that group of interests are furthering the mistakes of the previous Government by building houses without chimneys?
That is not relevant.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Questions must be relevant.
Where there is waste energy in regard to ESB cooling towers adjoining housing estates, could that energy not be utilised to heat these estates instead of heating the sky? Would the Minister have that investigated where suitable facilities apply?
Certainly I will.
They belong to Bord na Móna not to the ESB.
Who is asking the question here?
(Interruptions.)
Would the Minister indicate if there is one Governmental authority responsible for encouraging investigation or research into this area of new sources of energy particularly in regard to domestic heating and domestic requirements?
Aid for conservation, yes, it is under my Department. We have an inter-Departmental committee and it includes people from the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, the ESB, An Foras Forbartha. A lot of these people sit on this committee. Also, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, An Foras Forbartha and the ESB are investigating the whole series of new ways for using electricity and new forms of heat as well. Of course, we are taking part, through my Department again, in international agencies and commissions abroad in Brussels with the European Economic Community under the OECD and in the International Energy Commission.
Is the Minister assuring me then that his Department have specific responsibility for coordinating all research and investigation in this area?
No, not research. Research comes under the Department of Industry and Commerce.
What specific terms of reference has the committee the Minister has referred to which is under the auspices of his Department?
Conservation is the principal term of reference. It was the reason it was set up in the first place. It is to encourage conservation of energy. More efficient use of energy sources might conserve heating and reduce the importation of oils for the generation of electricity and for other uses.
In addition to the conservation value, can I take it that this committee is also supervising in a general sort of way the exploration of new sources of energy for domestic purposes?
No. Exploration and exploitation would come under the Department of Industry and Commerce, particularly IIRS and the research and development section of that Department.
Is the Minister aware of any agency within the Department of Industry and Commerce responsible for that service?
That question should be tabled to the appropriate Minister.
District heating, as the Minister is aware, is widely used on the Continent, in Britain and the North of Ireland. It is a big success on the Continent. Would the Minister agree that the ESB should be encouraged or instructed to get into this field, for fuel conservation purposes and also to ensure that people will get centrally heated homes at a reasonable cost. The ESB are always looking for new areas to develop.
I would, of course. The ESB do not need encouragement or instruction from me. They are doing it anyway. They are interested in two locations in the country. The ideal for the use of excess heat generated in generating stations would be new generating plant built next to a new town. There is in Galway district heating in the form Deputy Coogan mentioned. Ballymun is the prime example in Dublin. The existing location of generating plants and the fact that there are many built-up areas where some of the houses have a different form of central heating and may not be willing to take district heating make the economics of it somewhat questionable. There are two areas the subject of detailed study at the moment. One is next to the Marino station in Cork, and the other one is in Dublin where the Poolbeg station could supply district heating to a number of houses. A report is expected on these at the end of the current year. I will give any Deputy who requires it information about the results.