Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
387. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his position on the Wind Turbines Bill, 2012; if his Department has submitted its amendment list for the taking of Committee Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44148/12]
View answerIreland has a legally binding 2020 renewable energy target under the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Our target is that we must achieve 16% of all energy consumed by 2020 from renewable sources. We have set out in our National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) that we will do this through 40% renewable electricity, 10% renewable transport and 12% renewable heat, which together would amount to 16% of all energy consumed in the State.
At the end of 2011, we were at 17.6% renewable electricity, 3.6% renewable transport (biofuels) and 5% renewable heat. Together these amounted to 6.5% all energy consumed being from renewables in 2011. This means we have another 8 years within which to achieve the remaining 9.5%, which will be very challenging.
Our NREAP and the Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012-2020 published by my Department earlier this year sets out the various policies and strategies that have been put in place on renewable energy. In the electricity sector, EirGrid’s 2008
Grid25 strategy is being implemented, alongside the rollout of the Gate 3 grid connections to renewable generators.
Onshore wind will make up the bulk of the 40% 2020 renewable electricity consumption target. In this context, it is recognised that there is an important balance to be struck between renewable energy development and the possible concerns of local communities in regard to issues such as proximity, visual amenity, and noise.
Existing Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Wind Energy Development (published by the Department of Environment in 2006) State that in general, noise is unlikely to be a significant problem, where the distance from the nearest turbine to any noise sensitive property is more than 500 metres. The Guidelines also advise planning authorities to seek evidence that the types of turbines proposed in a particular development will use best current engineering practice in terms of noise creation and suppression and provide quite specific limits in the permissible increases in noise above background noise from wind energy developments in order to protect neighbouring properties.
The current system therefore provides for a degree of specificity and uniformity across all planning authorities while also leaving the final decision in the hands of the local decision makers – who have the benefit of any submissions or observations from third parties – in making their decision.
It is considered that the introduction of mandatory minimum distances set out in statute, as proposed under the Wind Turbines Bill 2012, could effectively prohibit a planning authority from considering wind energy development that may otherwise be acceptable or even desirable from a broader energy policy perspective.
Along with my ministerial colleagues in the Department of Environment, we feel that the issues raised in the proposed Wind Turbines Bill are best addressed through a targeted review of the existing guidelines rather than legislation.
In order to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets and at the same time ensure that wind energy does not have negative impacts on local communities, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government – in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and other stakeholders – will undertake a targeted review of certain aspects of the Wind Energy Guidelines. This focused review will examine the manner in which the Guidelines address key issues of community concern such as noise proximity and visual amenity and any other potential impacts as considered appropriate together with exploring ways of building community support for wind energy development.
