Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013
245. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to whom the benefits from the Grid 25 scheme will accrue, with particular reference to the benefit that will accrue to private owners; and if private companies which set up wind farms are required to make a proportion of the output for the national grid as a public service obligation. [47801/13]
View answerWhile several of the issues raised in the Question are matters for EirGrid, and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any role or function, I will respond to the issues that fall within the ambit of my Department and Government policy in this area.
EirGrid's Grid25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe, secure and affordable electricity supply supporting economic growth, renewable and sustainable energy. It represents the most important investment in Ireland’s transmission system for several generations and will position our energy system for decades to come.
Electricity demand for business and homes must be met safely and securely 365 days a year. Our ability to rebuild the economy, to attract and retain foreign investment, to sustain Irish enterprise, to create jobs and growth, to deliver regional development and to ensure the well-being of our people depend on this.
Grid25 will take several years to complete and it represents an investment of €3.2 billion. It involves extensive work throughout the country, including building 800km of new power lines and upgrading 2,000 km of existing lines – double the size of today’s grid. The Grid25 project will reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels by putting the infrastructure in place to enable us use our own natural resources, help us create less carbon waste and enable us reach our renewable energy targets by 2020.
There is no requirement for wind farm developers to connect to the National Grid, but ordinarily they do so to transmit electricity to consumers. The principal supports for renewable electricity generation are the current REFIT, and former AER schemes. These schemes are funded though the Public Service obligation (PSO) levy, which is paid for by all electricity consumers.
