Work is being advanced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines. It is proposed to update certain sections of the existing guidelines. There will also be a number of technical appendices developed to assist planning authorities in relation to noise assessment, monitoring and the setting of planning conditions. Draft guidelines were published in December 2013 for public consultation. Submissions were received from around 7,500 organisations and members of the public during the public consultation period. Following consideration of the submissions, the revisions to the guidelines will be finalised and issued to planning authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that between 3,500MW and 4,000MW of renewable electricity generation will be required to achieve the target of 40% renewable electricity by 2020. Given that we already have 2,600MW in place, we will need between approximately 1000MW and 1500MW additional generation to meet our 2020 target.
My Department is preparing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, which is to be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The proposed Framework will be completed in 2015, and will be a high level strategic policy, which is intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily in relation to large scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence in the coming weeks with the publication of the Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report.
