Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 October 2014
26. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if support schemes exist to assist with the introduction of energy efficient heating sources such as wood pellet burning and biomass fuels; if such schemes will be examined with a view to introducing such energy efficient means into the stock of public buildings across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40311/14]
View answerI recently published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (www.dcenr.gov.ie). The draft Plan will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. Analysis underpinning the draft Plan is that an additional bioenergy-focused measure in the heat sector would represent the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the draft Plan recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources including wood pellets and other biomass. The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the scheme in place in 2016.
The draft Plan also proposes that the Bioenergy Steering Group, which would be established to coordinate the implementation of the draft Plan, would explore the potential for economically feasible green procurement opportunities including, for example, public buildings converting to bioenergy heat supply contracts.
The uptake of renewable heat is also supported through Part L of the Building Regulations. Furthermore, the planned reviews of these regulations, for buildings other than dwellings, to achieve Nearly Zero Energy Buildings status, are also expected to result in increasing the uptake of renewable heat from a range of sources including biomass.
The Better Energy Homes scheme does not provide grant support for biomass heating systems. The scheme provides grants towards improving the energy efficiency of residential heating through upgrades of boilers, heating control upgrades and the installation of solar heating.
