asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the progress that has been made to date in the development of new energy sources as an alternative to the growing cost of oil imports, particularly in regard to experimental work on biomass, wind-power and small hydro schemes; and whether he will arrange to speed up these development programmes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Energy Sources.
10.
The Department of Industry and Energy, through the Alternative Energy Committee established under their aegis, have been actively involved in the promotion of native sources of energy of the kind specified in the Deputy's question.
The National Windpower Programme is now well advanced and it is expected that nine wind machines will be in operation before the end of the year. Two machines are already in operation and a third has been erected.
The hydro programme of the Department of Industry and Energy includes plans for grant-aiding a selected number of small hydro schemes of up to approximately 250KW as part of the assessment of hydro power for future development. Also a national hydro resource survey spanning two years is being considered. These programmes are likely to be introduced in the near future. Already a comprehensive register of existing small hydro installations has been compiled.
A forest biomass demonstration programme commenced in 1979. Bord na Mona are growing 400 hectares of coppicing hardwood species on cutaway bogs at Clonsast, County Offaly and Oweninny, County Mayo. The Forest and Wildlife Service are growing 200 hectares of short rotation single stem conifers on virgin bog at Bangor Erris and Sheskin, County Mayo. The coppiced species can be harvested four or five years after planting and the single stem wood after six to ten years. The ESB are modifying one of their peat burning units at Screebe in Connemara to handle the timber. The first crop should be available in 1984, but it will be towards the end of the decade before the demonstration programme is complete.
As I said, these programmes are of an exploratory and demonstration nature and their benefits may not accrue for some time to come. They are proceeding, however, as quickly as resources at my disposal will allow.
Is the hydro station at Ballyshannon, which possibly Deputy Blaney had in mind, working at maximum capacity or can it be further developed?
That is a separate question. However, I will contact the Deputy in this matter if he wishes.
When is it expected that the evaluation of the wind generation programme will be available? I know that the programme is only getting under way this year but perhaps the Minister could give this information.
It is a five-year programme. At this point only two machines are in operation but by the end of the year there will be nine wind machines operating. The five-year programme was initiated in 1980 so the results in full will not be available until 1985.
I do not think the Minister of State referred in his reply to the possibilities of harnessing wave energy. Could he throw any light on that topic as one of the alternative sources?
I understand that the prospects for wave power are promising in the long term. The ESB have been involved in a recently-completed IEA study in the Sea of Japan and the NBST are co-ordinating research at home. The exploitation of this resource may take some time. Tidal wave power, however, is unlikely for geographical reasons to be of much interest at present.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the biomass programme will take four or five years and up to eight years to evaluate? Does the Minister anticipate that at the end of that time a decision will be made as to whether we should go into it on a large commercial scale?
The demonstration programme will not be completed for quite some time and we will not have the full results until towards the end of this decade.
I understood the Minister to say that the short-term rotation was four to five years, while the longest term mentioned was eight years. Does he not feel that short-term rotation could be evaluated after four or five years?
That would be a partial evaluation of the short rotation single stem conifers on virgin bog at Bangor Erris and Sheskin. The coppiced species can be harvested four or five years after planting. The first crop which the ESB have planted should be available in 1984. However, a complete evaluation will take longer than that.
Mr. Barrett
Has any progress been reported from Canada or Sweden, who are jointly involved in research into biomass under the International Energy Agency?
I have not that information in my file. The agencies of State involved are the Forestry and Wildlife Service, Bord na Móna and the Electricity Supply Board.
In the examination of alternate energy will the Minister of State tell the House the Government's present consideration of the nuclear option?
The question of the nuclear option is still there but in the context of an energy-usage situation it is not an expanding one. The urgency of this aspect of energy has diminished somewhat and the Deputy can be assured that before we proceed to any nuclear energy every step will be taken by the Government to ensure that all safety aspects are fully examined.