Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
33. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been a thorough examination and analysis of the economic and employment benefits that might be derived from large-scale onshore and offshore wind farms; if he will publish the results of any such examinations and analyses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31648/14]
View answerIreland's progress to date in transitioning to renewable energy was underlined by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) in its publication, in February 2014, of "Renewable Energy in Ireland 2012". That publication noted that the contribution of renewable energy to meeting overall energy demand rose from 2.3% to 7.1% between 1990 and 2012, with renewable electricity contributing 4.1% to the overall energy demand in 2012. The publication is available on the SEAI website at http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Renewable_Energy_in_Ireland/Renewable-Energy-in-Ireland-2012.pdf.
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 has been estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 megawatts of installed wind generation will be required to meet Ireland’s renewable targets, in addition to hydro generation, bio-energy, and renewable combined heat and power generators. Currently, over 3,000 MW of additional renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.
There are a number of economic benefits that arise from onshore and offshore wind development, some of which are already being realised. The economic benefits include employment from the construction and maintenance of generation infrastructure as well as from component manufacturing. Analysis undertaken by the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) and Trinity College Dublin (2013) estimated direct and indirect employment under various realistic scenarios. The report, which estimates multiple thousands of jobs depending on the scenario, is available on the ESRI's website at https://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/BKMNEXT250/BKMNEXT250.pdf. Additional flows of income to local economies would arise from rates, rent to land owners and local community funds.
I should also highlight the additional benefits in terms of enhanced security and sustainability of energy provided by the increased use of indigenous renewable energy.
