Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Scheme.
Trevor Sargent
Question:
10
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
in regard to the alternative energy scheme, the savings which will accrue to Ireland and the people of Europe as a whole from avoiding the annual emission of over 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide by the commissioning of ten new wind farms alongside the savings from not requiring fossil fuels to be consumed with such fuel likely to increase in price in the near future.
[6440/95]
Peadar Clohessy
Question:
20
Mr. Clohessy
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
the volume of electricity produced at the Bellacorrick Wind Farm, County Mayo, in each year since commencement of operations; the average annual cost per unit of electricity produced there; the plans, if any, he has for the expansion of wind farms and other alternative electricity sources; the current arrangements under which the ESB purchases privately-generated electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6497/95]
Trevor Sargent
Question:
22
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
his views on the charge that the alternative energy scheme which was launched by the previous Government in April 1994, has failed to encourage Irish jobs and investment in view of the fact that most of the successful proposals from Irish companies have been turned down notwithstanding the fact that some of these have full planning permission and none of the £15 million made available in grants were used by any developer.
[6439/95]
James Leonard
Question:
35
Mr. Leonard
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
when the successful applicants under the alternative energy requirement scheme for the supply of up to 15 MW of alternative energy from renewable sources will be announced; the criteria used in selection for the 15 MW from waste and other sources including biomass; and if he has taken account of the serious situation in County Monaghan as outlined in the farm waste study, a copy of which was submitted to his Department.
[5463/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 20, 22 and 35 together.
The results of the alternative energy requirement scheme were announced by me on 7 March 1995. I authorised the ESB to offer power purchase agreements in respect of 34 projects, totalling 111 megawatts of electricity-generating capacity using alternative energy sources. This includes 10 wind farm projects with a total capacity of 73 mega watts.
The scheme was set against the policy background of developing our indigenous energy sources, diversifying our energy supply sources and contributing to the strategy of limiting carbon dioxide emissions. Electricity production from windpower and other non-fossil fuel sources will result in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions where such production replaces electricity production from fossil fuels. Assuming that all of the windpower projects proceed, it is estimated that their annual electricity output would avoid the emission of approximately 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, compared with corresponding output from oil-fired plant. However, it must be recognised that the cost of electricity generation from alternative energy is higher at present than that from fossil fuels and there may be environmental impacts associated with alternative energy projects. Such impacts may be assessed as part of the normal planning process, to which the projects are subject. As regards costs, further technological development, together with greater operating experience may bring alternative energy costs down towards the cost of fossil fuels. However, it is not possible to accurately predict these trends nor trends in future fossil fuel prices.
The sole criterion for the selection of projects in the alternative energy requirement competition was the amount of grant requested by project applicants per unit of electricity output. There was no scope in the scheme to take into account other issues such as local environmental benefits, job creation potential or the origin of project proposers. However, it is not true to say that the scheme has failed to encourage Irish jobs and investment. Irish participants are associated with many of the projects and there will be further opportunities for Irish participation at the construction phase. Furthermore, this scheme was a first step in the development of opportunities for alternative energy and the experience gained by Irish participants will be of benefit for the future.
A review of strategy in relation to the development of alternative energy sources in the light of the experience of the alternative energy requirement scheme is now under way. This review will include an examination of appropriate criteria for the selection of projects. Following completion of this review I intend to announce new targets for alternative energy development by the end of this year.
While biomass projects did not succeed under the recent scheme I was impressed by the potential of biomass to make a contribution to energy supply while, at the same time, solving environmental problems and creating jobs. Therefore, I will be bringing forward a special scheme for biomass as soon as possible. When the arrangements are finalised in the coming months, I will make a further announcement.
Until these new schemes are announced there is no provision for the ESB to accommodate unsolicited requests for grid connection and power purchase agreements. However, arrangements for such requests are being considered in the context of ESB restructuring, as part of overall arrangements for the procurement of independently-produced electricity.
The annual output of the Bellacorrick wind farm since commencement of operations in 1992 is as follows: 1992, 4.9 gigawatt hours — million kilowatt hours; 1993, 15.8 gigawatt hours and 1994, 18.7 gigawatt hours.
The average annual cost per unit is a commercial contractual matter between the wind farm and the ESB.
