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Alternative Energy Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2012

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Questions (24, 50)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

24. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual additional cost incurred with a no wind energy situation and the alternatives considered to achieve the same level of environmental protection using other technologies both renewable and energy conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53338/12]

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Pearse Doherty

Question:

50. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of natural gas saved as a result of Ireland's wind energy programme; the public authority that completed this verification; if he will provide details of the recognised international procedures used in the verification process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53336/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 50 together.

The additional cost incurred with no wind generation is an estimated figure of approximately €300 million in avoided national gas imports from the use of all renewable energies in the generation of electricity in 2011 which was published recently by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). They calculate that wind generation alone would account for an estimated €240 million of the €300 million in avoided gas imports.

The calculation is based on a methodology set out in SEAI's Renewable Energy in Ireland – 2011 report, where the avoided primary energy from the various renewable energies are estimated based on the technologies they would be replacing. For wind it is assumed that they are replacing marginal gas generation. This results in a more conservative estimate of avoided primary energy and emissions than taking say the average system generation as used in the International Energy Agency’s Partial Substitution Methodology. The estimated avoided primary energy is then used to arrive at an estimated avoided gas import cost figure using the price of natural gas for electricity generation (IEA Energy Prices & Taxes).

The above figures relate only to avoided energy import costs. There is currently sufficient conventional capacity on the grid to cope with a ‘no wind’ situation so there wouldn’t be any additional investment costs.

The methodology set out in Renewable Energy in Ireland draws on approaches that were developed for use in baseline studies in credit-based emission trading systems and the IEA partial substitution method.

For reference see: Kartha S., Lazarus M. and Bosi M, 2004. Baseline recommendations for greenhouse gas mitigation projects in the electric power sector. Energy Policy 32, 545-566.

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