Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 4

Priority Questions. - Alternative Energy Projects.

David Stanton

Question:

30 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the contribution which the various types of renewable energy sources have made to the total primary energy requirement in the past two years; the projected contribution in the next two years; the State assistance and encouragement available to potential and existing and commercial private users of renewable energy; the steps being taken to encourage conservation of energy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18302/01]

Mr. Jacob

The statistical information requested is in the following tabular statement:

Contribution to TPER

Technology	1999% of TPER	2000% of TPER(provisional)	2001% of TPER (estimate)	2002% of TPER (estimate)
Hydro	0.54%	0.51%	0.51%	0.52%
Wind	0.12%	0.14%	0.23%	0.45%
Landfill Gas	0.23%	0.23%	0.22%	0.28%
Biomass & Waste	1.00%	0.96%	0.94%	0.91%
Total Renewables	1.89%	1.84%	1.89%	2.16%

In summary, the table indicates that under reasonable assumptions the contribution of renewable energy to total primary energy requirement – TPER – should rise from 1.89% in 1999 to 2.16% by 2002. When provision is made for the additional 500 MW target, which I announced in the Green Paper on Sustainable Energy, the contribution by all renewables should rise towards 12% of total electricity output by 2005, which equates to about 5% of TPER.

Advice to private individuals and companies is provided by the Renewable Energy Information Office – REIO – whose mandate is to promote the use of renewable energy resources and provide independent advice to all sectors on financial, environmental and technical issues relating to the further development of renewable energy technologies. The REIO staff includes a number of technical and marketing experts and its services are provided at no charge to its customers.

In addition, the national development plan for energy related expenditure includes up to £43 million to support renewable energy technologies generally. A programme to distribute this funding will be settled and published after certain cost studies on recommendations of the renewable energy strategy group have concluded.

As regards energy conservation, the Green Paper on Sustainable Energy, which I published in September 1999, outlined a framework for energy policy in Ireland and identified energy conservation initiatives as having a key role. In this regard, the national development plan has allocated a figure of £103 million primarily for the promotion of energy conservation through information and education programmes.

In addition, I am currently guiding legislation through the Oireachtas, which will establish the Irish Energy Centre as a statutory body. When enacted, the IEC will be renamed the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and a large element of the NDP funding, £33.6 million, will be spent on strengthening activities of the new enlarged authority. This will allow the authority the flexibility to deliver on its mandate under the NDP and the Green Paper, as well as the national climate change strategy.

The new body will oversee targeted programmes to improve lifestyle approaches to energy consumption, retrofit projects to enhance the efficiencies of existing building stock and improved investment in energy efficiency in new buildings in order to stem the growth of energy consumption in Ireland.

Mr. Stanton

When does the Minister envisage the passage of the sustainable energy Bill into law? Does he agree that our emissions are above and beyond what was agreed at Kyoto? Can he give some information with regard to that? How do we compare to the rest of Europe on renewable energy sources of supply?

Mr. Jacob

If I have my way, the legislation will be completed this term. We have taken it through the Seanad and are endeavouring to get it into this House. I would dearly like to have it processed this term. We have a strong and growing economy Deo gratias. However, that is presenting us with some problems and we have gone well ahead of what we signed up for at Kyoto in terms of noxious emissions into the atmosphere. That is being addressed, primarily by the Minister of the Environment and Local Government and my Department has its part to play by way of energy conservation and focusing on renewable energy. We have a target of 500 MW of renewable energy by 2005. We are well on course and that target will be met. AER V, which was announced two weeks ago, will give us another 255 MW and planning permission is in situ for that. There is no doubt about what my Department aspires to do and those targets will be met.

With regard to the rest of Europe, I understand the UK has a target for 2005 to have 10% of its electricity production from renewable sources. Our target that we will meet is 12%. Countries like Denmark are ahead but we are catching up.

Mr. Stanton

Does the Minister agree that unless urgent action is taken by the Government, we will not meet the targets reached at Kyoto? We run the risk of incurring very serious penalties. Does he know what those penalties might be? Does he also agree that the Government is failing nationally to imbue in the population as a whole the need for energy conservation and the need to turn to renewable energies in building houses, using cars etc.? There is no sense of urgency. What is he planning to do about it?

Mr. Jacob

If we carry on business as usual we will be in dire straits. There is a huge air of urgency about this within the Government. I can speak for our Department. Everything that needs to be done has been done. The Green Paper was produced and universally well accepted. That has now been incorporated in Government policy and unprecedented funding for renewables has been put in place in the national development plan. The Irish Energy Centre has been beefed up and is being put on a statutory basis. Pending the legislation, an interim board was put in place. That board has its work programme in hand and is motoring ahead. I am confident our targets will be met.