Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 May 2014
285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which adequate levels of alternative electricity generation facilities have been identified in order to comply with existing or anticipated EU regulations with particular reference to the control of emissions in line with national and international guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20365/14]
View answer286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which alternative energy generating sources such as wind, wave or other alternatives have been identified with particular reference to the need to develop non-fossil sources to the maximum; if he will outline any development in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20366/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together.
The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to come, progress is being made towards increasing the share of renewable energy in our generation portfolio. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Provisional figures for 2013 show that 20.5% of electricity demand was met from renewables.
To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. Provisional figures for 2013 indicate that 16.4% of electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of 2013, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was 2,300 MW. It is estimated that a total of around 4,000 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Currently, over 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.
With regard to other renewable energy technologies, my Department is currently in the process of finalising a national bioenergy strategy, which will be published shortly. It will set out the actions required to optimise the contribution that energy from biomass could make to the achievement of the 2020 renewable energy target for Ireland.
Furthermore, the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), which I published in February this year, identifies the opportunity for Ireland of realising the potential of our offshore energy resources for increasing indigenous production of renewable energy, thereby contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improving the security of our energy supply. The Strategic Environmental Assessment carried out for the OREDP found that it would be environmentally sustainable for 4,500 MW of offshore wind and 1500MW of wave and tidal devices to be developed in Irish waters in the period to 2030.
EU Member States are currently considering an energy and climate change framework for 2030 in pursuit of a low carbon economy by 2050. Following the recent publication by the European Commission of its proposal for a 2030 Climate and Energy Framework, my Department is undertaking analysis to establish the scale of the contribution Ireland can make to the achievement of the proposed EU renewable energy target of 27%, while also ensuring that any action taken would not give rise to unintended consequences, particularly from a competitiveness perspective.
