Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
99. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if waste to energy or energy from waste plants are being considered by his Department as part of the wider solution to reduce fossil fuel emissions; the current number of plants which have been constructed in the State; and his plans to extend the use of this technology. [24883/14]
View answerIreland’s energy policies recognise the importance of waste as an energy resource and both the AER and REFIT schemes support electricity generated from anaerobic digestion, landfill gas and the biodegradable element of municipal solid waste. These technologies are already making a contribution to Ireland’s renewable energy targets. To date there is one plant in the State producing electricity from municipal solid waste. My Department is also aware of two other such plants under development.
Additionally, the table sets out the numbers of plants generating energy (electricity and/or heat) from waste materials other than municipal solid waste, as advised to my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
|
Technology Type |
Number of Plants |
|
Landfill gas |
20 |
|
Sewage Sludge Gas |
11 |
|
Anaerobic Digestion |
2 |
Waste materials can also be used in the production of biofuels to displace fossil fuels in the transport sector. In 2013 over 99% of the biofuel manufactured in Ireland and consequently placed on the market, through the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, was produced from waste materials.
