Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 3

Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Projects.

Michael Bell

Question:

49 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress that has been made regarding the Government's objective of achieving 12% of electricity generation from renewable sources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23324/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

In September 1999 I published a Green Paper on Sustainable Energy, which, among other things, sets a course for the further development of our renewable energy resources to 2005.

In the Green Paper I set a revised target of 500 megawatts of additional renewable energy based generating capacity to be built by 2005. This equated to about 12% of production.

The 500 megawatt target will be implemented in the main through the alternative energy requirement programme administered by my Department. In May this year I launched the fifth competition in the series, more commonly referred to as AER V with a closing date for receipt of tenders of 30 November.

Through AER V, I have put on offer contracts for 255 megawatts of renewable energy based electricity generating plant in large wind, small scale wind, biomass and small scale hydro. The amount of capacity on offer is the largest yet under the AER programme. It represents approximately half the target I set for the period up to 2005. In addition, renewable energy electricity generating projects totalling 18 megawatts installed capacity have been built to date supplying green electricity to the liberalised electricity market.

In regard to the balance of the 500 megawatt target, it is my intention in the light of interest in AER V and comments received to bring forward a further support measure to ensure the additional capacity can be delivered by 2005 under reasonable assumptions.