Arthur Spring
Question:585. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his position on biomass as a renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57947/12]
View answerWednesday, 16 January 2013
Questions (585, 586)
Arthur Spring
Question:586. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of renewable energy that biomass will represent in meeting our EU targets for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57948/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 585 and 586 together.
The Government is committed, in order to meet our 2020 binding targets, to increase renewable energy to 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heating sector, which together amounts to 16% overall, in line with our target under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
Currently, Ireland imports around 90% of its fuel to meet demand at a cost of approximately €6bn per annum. Developing renewable sources of energy, including energy from biomass, will help Ireland reduce its dependence on these imports. In addition, because sustainable biomass is considered carbon neutral, it will also assist Ireland meet its Climate Change commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and the 2020 European Union targets.
Energy from biomass offers a number of advantages for meeting Ireland’s energy needs. It can address energy needs across all the energy sectors, it can be sourced indigenously and can enhance competitiveness through the provision of cleaner, and ultimately cheaper energy.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has modelled in its ‘Energy Forecasts for Ireland for 2020’ that energy from biomass in 2020 will account for approximately 5% of our electricity requirements, approximately 10% of our heat requirements and, in the form of biofuels, will contribute around 9% of the energy required in the transport sector.