Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2016
9. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for developing an alternative energy sector in line with current and future requirements, the need to meet carbon dioxide emission reduction targets and the need to ensure a robust and reliable energy grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16168/16]
View answerThis question is to ascertain the extent to which the Minister proposes to lay the foundations for a reliable and robust energy grid, which will obviously have to be sustained with renewable energy, and the extent to which he expects to meet emissions targets at the same time. This is similar to the question on the grid asked a few minutes ago.
I do not need to wish Deputy Durkan, of all people, longevity here in this House.
The White Paper on Energy Policy has set out a vision for a low-carbon energy system in Ireland, where greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, by comparison with 1990 levels, by 2050, and where alternative and renewable energy will play a dominant role in Ireland’s future energy mix. In addition, the programme for Government sets out a range of priority climate actions and interventions, a number of which have a direct bearing on the energy sector. In combination, these will help to increase and diversify Ireland’s renewable energy mix across the electricity, heating and transport sectors.
Work is now ongoing to examine the design and cost of introducing a new renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, to encourage the development of Ireland’s abundant and indigenous renewable energy resources. This scheme will examine the viability of supporting a range of new renewable energy technologies in Ireland, including solar, bioenergy and ocean energy, and will help to further reduce emissions in the electricity sector.
During this transition, maintaining a robust, secure electricity grid for the benefit of all electricity consumers will be paramount. EirGrid’s Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System, DS3, programme and the future energy scenario planning exercise will ensure the electricity network is designed to meet the transition to a low-carbon energy future in a secure manner.
In the heating sector, my Department is working on the introduction of a new renewable heat incentive, RHI, to support the deployment of renewable energy for commercial and industrial users of heat in the non-ETS sector. The primary aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heat sector and help to reach Ireland's 12% renewable heat target by 2020. In 2015, it is estimated that 6.8% of heat was derived from renewable sources. The new RHI scheme is expected to become available in 2017.
In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its 10% renewables target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution, out to 2020. Provisional figures indicate 5.7% of our energy needs in the transport sector in 2015 were met from renewable sources. Our renewable transport target will be largely met through the biofuels obligation scheme, which has been in place since 2010. It will increase the percentage of biofuels in transport fuels between now and 2020.
The Government recognises the importance of fostering the development of other energy-related technologies, such as biomass, solar, energy efficiency technology, offshore technology and smart meters, all of which can support the future transition to a low-carbon energy future.
I congratulate the Minister on his assuming office, and I also congratulate his colleague. I reciprocate the good wishes offered and hope the Minister reigns for many a year and enjoys it.
To what extent has the Minister tested the targets? I would like him to refer in particular to the use of electric motor cars. To what extent can these cars replace cars running on conventional fuels? Are the targets in this regard much lower than I would have anticipated?
Is the Minister satisfied with the robustness of the various provisions to meet the challenges ahead given that agriculture must continue to exist, that emissions will continue and that the requirement in terms of economic development is likely to increase? Is the Minister satisfied that, with continued economic growth in this country, it will be possible to meet the targets? Have these already been factored into the projections?
One would want about a week to get through all the questions. In any case, I will start with renewable transport technology. There is a binding target of 10% set. The Deputy is saying he believes it is low. The officials in my Department are telling me it would be very challenging to meet the target. The reason is we have not had the take-up in regard to electric vehicles that was projected or expected. This is mainly because the technology has not developed internationally to the extent that it should have.
At one of my meetings with Commissioner Cañete, who is in charge of energy and climate action, he made the point that the European Union is now investing significantly in developing battery technology that will result in longevity so that if one is going to Belmullet, one will be able to get there and back with one charge.
In fairness to the ESB, it has rolled out the charging network across the country. At present, electric vehicles are very useful in large urban conurbations but there is still a challenge in rural areas. Therefore, the current focus is on biofuels, in addition to putting in place structures such that when the technology develops internationally, we will be in a position to seize it.
