I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of 16% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources of generation by 2020. Figures for 2012 show that 19.6% of electricity demand was met by renewable generation in 2012. The table below gives the normalised percentage of gross final electricity consumption that was generated by renewable source.
To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity. In 2013 15.3% of electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of 2013 the total amount of renewable electricity generation connected to the grid was 2,300 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 MW and 4,000 MW will be required to allow Ireland meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Currently, around 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.
The table below shows the contribution made by each renewable generation technology as a percentage of total electricity demand for each year since 2007:
Year
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
Renewables % of Gross Electricity
|
9.9%
|
11.1%
|
13.7%
|
14.9%
|
17.6%
|
19.6%
|
Hydro (normalised)
|
2.5%
|
2.5%
|
2.6%
|
2.6%
|
2.7%
|
2.7%
|
Wind (normalised)
|
6.8%
|
7.9%
|
10.2%
|
11.2%
|
13.7%
|
15.3%
|
Biomass
|
0.0%
|
0.1%
|
0.2%
|
0.4%
|
0.5%
|
0.9%
|
Landfill Gas
|
0.5%
|
0.5%
|
0.6%
|
0.6%
|
0.6%
|
0.6%
|
Biogas
|
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
The highest level of renewable generation exported to the grid to date is 1,866 MW, on 17 December 2013.