Vol. 318 No. 1
andMr. Quinn asked the Minister for Energy if it is proposed to study the district heating of major urban areas, utilizing the current waste heat produced as a by-product of electricity generation in the ESB power stations and, if so, if he will consult with the various local authorities involved with a view to providing district heating to existing and new residential developments.
34.
andMr. Quinn asked the Minister for Energy if it is proposed in consultation with the Confederation of Irish Industries to investigate the possibility of making available to industrial plants access to district heating facilities which could be harnessed to the existing ESB electricity generation stations.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 34 together.
Two studies, the more recent in 1977, have been carried out by the Electricity Supply Board into the district heating of major urban areas utilising waste heat produced as a by-product of electricity generation in the Board's power stations. Although the results of these studies were not encouraging the question of introducing district heating into local authority housing schemes has been examined by the appropriate Government Departments and it has been concluded that the very substantial funds required to provide district heating could be used to better advantage, for example, in providing additional houses.
Although these studies were conclusive enough at the time they were completed, I feel it would be prudent to have them updated to take account of the marked changes in energy costs, particularly during the past year. Since other costs, and indeed other factors, will not have remained static, it cannot be assumed that the economics will have been reversed in a dramatic way. However, I am asking the ESB to have this updating carried out.
My Department are at present providing financial assistance for a project to use waste heat from Lanesboro generating station for horticultural purposes and I am sure that the ESB will be prepared to consider proposals from suitably located industrialists for the use of waste heat from other generating stations.
Would the Minister not consider that perhaps his Department rather than the ESB would be the appropriate agency to undertake the updating of the study concerned since, presumably, the Department would be in a position to take into account other factors which might not be familiar to the ESB?
As I have indicated, the original studies were carried out by the ESB. Consequently, it is reasonable that the updating be undertaken by them also. Of course, the consequence of the updating will be submitted to my Department where it will be assessed independently.
Is it possible to put any time scale on this review? Is it expected back from the ESB within any specific period of time?
I cannot put a date on it but I do not anticipate an excessively long delay.
Is there any other power station at which heat is being wasted, contrary to the manner in which waste heat is being used at Lanesboro and, if so, are there any proposals to use that waste heat?
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is yes. Regarding the utilisation of such waste heat, this question is being examined but in many cases there is required an initiative by people on the spot in relation to the particular generating station concerned. I do not know whether the Deputy is aware of the details of the Lanesboro scheme but if he is so aware he will know that in that case considerable assistance is being given by my Department regarding the operation of the scheme, which, incidentally, is at a relatively early stage. There are only two groups allocated under the horticultural scheme but there are more to be allocated. Such a scheme requires physical location close to the generating station concerned.
Is the Minister aware that almost 20 years ago this type of scheme was suggested and that a certain amount of work was done then with a view to utilising such a scheme for horticultural purposes but that it was dropped mainly because of objections on the part of people engaged in horticultural production elsewhere on the basis that it would be unfair to them to have to compete with producers who could avail of free heat?
I doubt if the economics would have been attractive 20 years ago.
They could be updated now.
Work is being done in that regard.
In the context of the review on heating which is about to be undertaken, would the Minister ensure that regard is had to the fact that district heating is used widely in Northern Ireland and Great Britain? Would the Minister not agree that it is difficult to understand how schemes of district heating can be used so widely, so efficiently and so economically in an area less than 100 miles from here while apparently, such schemes are not viable in a Twenty-Six County context?
I will bear in mind what the Deputy has said.
