John Gormley
Question:89 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has for the Irish bioenergy industry. [20896/99]
Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Projects.
The Green Paper on sustainable energy identified biomass as a substantial renewable energy resource. I look forward to working with the bioenergy sector in creating the circumstances and conditions that will stimulate the deployment of this resource where it has the prospect of being economically and socially attractive.
John Gormley
Question:90 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the amount of Ireland's energy requirements which could be supplied by offshore wind farms in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20898/99]
A study of the potential offshore wind energy resource of the island of Ireland as a source of renewable electricity generation has been commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department of Economic Development, Belfast.
The study, which will be published shortly, involves an assessment of the total, feasible and practicable offshore wind resource and an examination of factors affecting its development.
John Gormley
Question:91 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the amount of Ireland's energy requirement which could be supplied by solar power; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20899/99]
Data presented in the study, total renewable energy resource in Ireland, conducted by ESBI and ETSU in 1997 in respect of passive solar design, active solar heating systems and solar photovoltaic electricity indicate that, under certain assumptions, the potential practicable solar energy resource in Ireland in 2000 could amount to some 3,328 GWh. This practicable solar energy resource could represent about 4 per cent of Ireland's total primary energy requirement in 2000.