Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
728. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he recognises the benefits of developing offshore windfarms as opposed to onshore windfarms, which risk causing noise pollution and blighting the countryside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16376/13]
View answerKeeping the cost of energy in Ireland as low as possible is important for all consumers and plays a critical role in maintaining our overall economic competiveness. Late last year the Government agreed with my decision on cost grounds not to proceed with an application to the European Commission for State Aid clearance for a higher priced feed in tariff to support offshore wind development in the Irish electricity market.
While offshore wind is already being deployed in several Member States as part of delivering on their national renewable energy targets, it is still a very expensive technology to deploy, typically costing double the price of deploying onshore wind. Offshore wind currently costs in the region of €3 million per megawatt to deploy compared to the cost of onshore wind which is around €1.5 million per megawatt.
Ireland’s deployment of renewable energy sources in electricity has been increasing steadily in recent years as we work North and South, to deliver a 40% level of renewable electricity consumption by 2020. There has been good progress from 5% renewable electricity in 2005 to around 17% renewable electricity at present. The challenge is to steadily increase renewable electricity generation in the all island market from onshore wind and biomass year on year towards 2020.
However, 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 my Department and other stakeholders – is undertaking a targeted review of certain aspects of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006. This review will examine the manner in which the Guidelines address key issues of community concern such as noise (including separation distance) and shadow flicker.
