Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 January 2013
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which the use and production of biodiesel, bioethanol or other energy continues to develop in accordance with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5028/13]
View answerThe 2009 Renewable Energy Directive set a binding target on all Member States to achieve at least 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020. The increased deployment of Electric Vehicles will help in this regard but the primary means of meeting this target will be by the increasing use of biofuels. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 and works by obligating large road transport fuel suppliers to bring a certain amount of biofuels to the market. This has seen increased amounts of biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol being deployed in Ireland. From the start of this year, I have increased the obligation on fuel suppliers to include at least 6% by volume biofuels in their overall annual disposal of road transport fuels from the previous obligation rate of 4%. The recent increase in the obligation rate along with future increases will see the biofuel market grow to an estimated 500 million litres by 2020. This will continue to create further opportunities for the indigenous biofuel industry.
