John Perry
Question:153 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to encourage further expansion of wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5851/04]
View answerTuesday, 24 February 2004
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Written answers
I recently announced the establishment of a permanent renewables development group, chaired by the Department, which will provide a forum to share expertise and knowledge on an ongoing basis, and improve co-ordination to ensure the continued development of the renewable sector. The promotion of renewable energy technologies, of which wind energy is the dominant form at this time, is a priority of this Government. As Minister with responsibility for energy policy, my immediate goal is to add 500 megawatts of renewables-based electricity generating capacity to the electricity network by 2005 to deliver the target published in the Green paper on Sustainable Energy. In addition, I have announced that, subject to EU state aids clearance, I will support the building of an additional 218 megawatts of new renewable energy projects.
The 500 megawatt target is currently being implemented and will be achieved in the main under contracts offered by me under the fifth and sixth alternative energy requirement competitions. I am confident of securing State aids clearance for the additional 218 megawatts that will be allocated to AER VI projects but I cannot commit to individual projects until the European Commission has finalised its position on the State aids notification.
In addition, Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, the independent non-commercial State body focused exclusively on sustainable use of energy including deployment of renewable energy sources, has commenced a challenging work programme to increase energy efficiency and to promote renewable energy technologies. In the renewable energy field specifically, SEI has opened a research, development and demonstration programme for renewable energy technologies. The programme is open to a wide range of proposals including policy studies, field research, feasibility studies and technology research, development and demonstration.
The completion of AER VI will close the current chapter of support for renewable energy technologies. However at the end of last year I published a consultation document, Options for Future Renewable Energy Policy, Targets and Programmes. The consultation document and supporting annexes, which examine in detail support mechanisms and renewable energy policies in Ireland as well as in other European countries, were published on my Department's website in December 2003 and the closing date for receipt of submissions is next Friday 27 February 2004.
The document will be used to map out a future strategy for green energy in the coming years and follows a commitment I gave after the conclusion of the AER VI competition several months ago. The consultation document looks at key areas in the future, including future renewables policy; future green energy contribution to Ireland's electricity markets; how to overcome barriers to the deployment of renewable energy; and future options for market support mechanisms. Respondents are asked to outline their proposals in detail and to estimate the cost of any support measures that are proposed. After an assessment period, the Department will formulate a new renewable support policy, which it intends to have in place by the end of summer 2004.