Thomas Pringle
Question:1646. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a household tariff for solar PV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34209/14]
View answerWednesday, 17 September 2014
Questions (1646)
Written answers
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 committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources by 2020. At the end of 2012, 19.6% of Ireland’s electricity requirements came from renewable sources with 5.2% of our heat requirement and 2.4% of energy in transport coming from renewables. This equated to 7.1% of overall energy coming from renewables.
Wind energy has proved to be the most commercial technology in the Irish market and provisional figures for 2013 indicate that 16.4% of energy demand in the electricity sector was met from wind. This trend is expected to continue to 2020.
Beyond 2020, discussions are ongoing at EU level regarding 2030 targets in order to continue the path towards decarbonisation in a cost effective and equitable manner, that takes full account of the specific circumstances of individual Member States.
In parallel, my Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the Green Paper on Energy. The Green Paper, inter alia, sought feedback on the role that alternative technologies, such as solar, could play in delivering our renewable energy ambitions. The paper also sought views on the role of microgeneration to empower citizens through decarbonisation of the home, the cost effectiveness of its deployment, supports it would require, and who should bear the costs of any support. The views will be taken into consideration in preparation of the White Paper on Energy which will be finalised in 2015.
It is important to note that Electric Ireland has been offering a tariff for domestic microgeneration since February 2009. No other electricity supply company has to date chosen to offer a domestic microgeneration tariff, although the Commission for Energy Regulation invited them to do so. In addition, no company has opted to offer a tariff for microgeneration to the commercial and industrial sectors.