Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Mar 1995

Vol. 451 No. 3

Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Sources.

Chris Flood

Question:

33 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the percentage of total ESB requirements which could be produced by alternative energy sources by the year 2,000 on the basis of present policies. [6526/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The Deputy will be aware that on announcing the results of the alternative energy requirement scheme in early March, I promised a full assessment of the implications of the scheme with a view to setting revised targets and a strategy to achieving them. Until further targets are set, it is not possible to estimate the total electricity that could be generated from alternative sources by the year 2,000.

It is Government policy to contribute to the EU target under the Altener programme, of tripling electricity production from renewables by 2005 using 1991 figures as a base. Under the current AER scheme, assuming that all projects proceed, the electricity generated would represent a 35 per cent increase on present production from alternative sources.

At present the percentage of total ESB requirements produced by alternative energy sources is of the order of 7 per cent which compares favourably with some of the other EU member states.