Vol. 431 No. 4
78 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Thames Water in London propose to generate 18MW of electricity from sewage gas; and if he will give details of any studies which have been conducted into the potential for electricity generation from Dublin's sewage and putriscible municipal waste.
I have no function in relation to the Dublin Corporation report. I am aware that Thames Water have been producing electricity from sewage sludge for some years. It is an issue which is of interest not only in Dublin but throughout the country and is being considered by local authorities and the Department of the Environment as part of overall waste management policies. This examination of the potential includes a pilot plant in Tullamore. The level of interest in the subject can be gauged by the capacity attendance at a seminar on the energy efficient treatment options for sewage sludge which Eolas organised recently as part of the energy conservation programme which they administer for my Department. I would welcome the development of appropriate projects from an alternative energy perspective.
