asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the research or experiments that are being carried out by his Department or by any other body for which his Department are responsible, in sources of energy other than those traditional in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Sources Research.
20.
The National Science Council have carried out an extensive evaluation of the potential contribution of new energy sources to national energy requirements. A technique of systems analysis has been developed as an aid in this evaluation.
The sources examined and their potential contributions are as follows:
1. Biomass Conversion including particularly short-rotation forestry. This is seen as having a high potential contribution of up to 15 per cent of energy requirements by the year 2000. National research and development activities in this area are complemented by EEC and International Energy Agency projects. Organisations involved in the current studies are the Forestry Division of the Department of Fisheries, An Foras Talúntais, The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, ESB and the National Science Council.
2. Solar Energy: Due to relatively low direct sunlight and projected high costs for components, solar energy is expected to provide only a small but yet significant contribution to energy requirements. National centres of expertise are being encouraged and assisted to participate in the international activities in this area. The institutions involved are the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards: University College, Cork and Dublin University.
3. Wind Energy: Due to high average wind speeds over easily accessible areas, the potential energy supply from this source is high. At present no research and development is being undertaken here in wind machine design as there are no institutions with suitable expertise. Our research and development activity is centred on assessing the viability of the resources as the technology progresses, and the aesthetic and infrastructural problems associated with its widespread adoption. Organisations involved in this area are the National Science Council and University College, Cork.
4. Wave Energy: The seaboard of Ireland offers a large potential for energy extraction from ocean waves. Again resources constraints are likely to preclude hardware development in this country at this stage. However, close contact is being maintained with developments in other countries through the International Energy Agency working party on ocean power.
Current research and developments within the National Science Council are being concentrated on analysis of wave measurements provided by the Commissioners for Irish Lights, and initiating new measurement programmes and investigations on how best to incorporate this resource into the existing energy system.
I thank the Minister for a very full reply. I am glad to see he did not write off these alternative sources in the way his colleague, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy did ten days ago. Could the Minister tell me how it is that resources are not being made available for the exploration of the potential of winds and waves considering that we are expected to take in our stride a commitment of at least £350 million at present-day prices to a nuclear station?
I did not say that no resources were being made available. I said that we were not in a position to develop the hardware in these areas at the present time. I should also like to point out that even with the fastest possible rate of development in these areas it is highly improbable that they could supply any substantial proportion of our energy needs within the next two decades. So, irrespective of what potential emerges from these areas of research we are still faced with the question of meeting our actual energy needs over the next 15 to 20 years and to do that we must take decisions whether on conventional methods or nuclear methods within the next 18 months or two years.
I appreciate what the Minister says. I was glad also to hear him imply—at least I seemed to get that message from what he was saying —that he himself and his Department are not absolutely committed to the nuclear solution yet.
A question. Deputy, please.
Would he agree in respect of what appears to be the most promising of these new energy sources —the source called biomass arising from forest production—that it takes, even with the fastest rotation, some time to bring about production and that now is the time to be acquiring land and planting it——
Next question.
——and would his Department——
In fact the next question deals with the matter. Perhaps if I go on with that, it may answer the point.