Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
584. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to commission a study to investigate the feasibility of biomass as a raw material for the Moneypoint Electricity Supply Board plant in County Clare as part of measures to reduce dependency on imported oil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17878/15]
View answerThe choice of fuel used in the plant at Moneypoint is ultimately a matter for the operator and I have no role or function in this regard. No studies have been undertaken by my Department on the potential or otherwise of converting the plant to use biomass. Furthermore, I understand that there are a number of important issues that would demand further consideration before biomass could be used at Moneypoint. These include the following:
- the conversion of Moneypoint to biomass would require significant levels of capital investment by the operator;
- support tariffs substantially higher than those available for wind, which has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, would also be required which could lead to increased electricity prices;
- substantially more biomass than is available domestically would be required with large amounts of the resource having to be imported leading to uncertainty in terms of security of supply. The sustainability of transporting large amounts of imported biomass would also be a cause for concern;
- the commitment of substantial amounts of biomass to Moneypoint would divert scarce biomass away from the renewable heat sector, where biomass can be used more efficiently and where fewer alternative technologies exist.
