Vol. 518 No. 6
167 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to encourage the adoption in Ireland of the Dutch approach to wind power through the maximum use of EU funds and grants where nearly every small farm has its own wind powered windmill for electricity and sells the excess electricity to the national grid. [12795/00]
I am not aware of any Dutch grant scheme specific to on-farm small scale wind powered generators but if the Deputy has other information I would be glad to receive it. In September last, I published my Green Paper on Sustainable Energy. One of the objectives of the paper is to promote the increased use of alternative and renewable sources of energy for electricity generation and to do so in a way which maintains the competitiveness of the sector.
In this regard I have increased the target for additional renewable based electricity generating plant from 186 megawatts (MWe) to 500 MWe to be installed in the period 2,000-2,005. The bulk of the increased target will come from the wind energy sector.
I have stated on a number of occasions my commitment to participation by local communities, including the farming sector, in renewable energy developments. However, I recognise that there are constraints to the widespread deployment of renewable energy technologies. In that context, I have established a renewable energy strategy group tasked to examine all aspects of, and obstacles to, the further deployment of these technologies. Among the issues that the group will examine will be the factors which impede the development of small scale renewable energy projects and the prospects for net metering and billing, which, if feasible, would enhance the outlook for micro-scale projects. In that context, the question of additional support measures for such projects will be examined. The group commenced its study in November 1999 and will report back to me on the wind energy market by the end of June this year.
168 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the steps, if any, she is taking to accelerate a shift from fossil fuels such as coal and oil to clean energy such as wind and solar power. [12378/00]
Electricity production accounts for about 40% of the total national primary energy requirement. The alternative energy requirement programme – AER – launched in 1996, has contributed to the increased deployment of renewable energy based electricity generating plant within the electricity market.
In September last I increased the target for additional renewable energy based electricity generating plant to be installed in the period 2,000-2,005 from 186 megawatts (MWe) to 500 MWe. It is estimated this will increase the production of electricity from all renewable energy sources from 6% to 12% of total electricity production.
The new target will be met by means of additional competitions under AER and direct sales of green electricity to final customers under the accelerated liberalisation of the green electricity market provided for in the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
I have also established a renewable energy strategy group to examine all obstacles to the deployment of renewable energy technologies. The group's initial report, which will concentrate on obstacles to the increased deployment of wind energy technologies, is due for completion in the middle of the year.
