Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2017
591. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which alternative energy currently provides an adequate portion of the energy requirement in line with previously indicated targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22153/17]
View answer592. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which each alternative energy sector contributes to the national grid as a percentage of total energy requirements, in tabular form; the extent to which further progress is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22154/17]
View answer595. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he foresees an ability to achieve the targets in the alternative energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22157/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 592 and 595 together.
A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable and sustainable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers and businesses.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has calculated that 25.3% of electricity, 6.5% of heat and 5.7% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2015. Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.1% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2015 were met from renewable sources.
The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy and although good progress towards the target has been made to date, meeting the 16% target remains challenging. The REFIT schemes underpin the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies. In addition, my Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme and a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, designed to assist in meeting our RES-E and RES-H targets. The introduction of any new scheme - including the overall costs and technologies to be supported - will be subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.
To date, wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity. At end January 2017, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was 3,120 MW of which 2,796 MW was wind. A further 3,570 MW of renewable generation is contracted for connection to the grid. In addition, solar and biomass have the potential to also contribute to our renewable electricity target. Eirgrid estimates that a total of between 3,900 and 4,300 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to achieve 40% renewable electricity by 2020.
In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. Further increases to the obligation rate in the Biofuels Obligation Scheme took effect from 1 January 2017 when the rate increased to 8% by volume. A public consultation on future increases to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, required to meet the 2020 renewable transport target will take place later this year.
Details in regard to the sources of electricity generation in 2015 are publicly available in the report entitled Energy in Ireland 1990-2015, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in November 2016 and available on the SEAI website at www.seai.
The following table summarises those sources:
|
Electricity Outputs (GWh) |
2015 |
|
Coal |
16.9% |
|
Peat |
8.8% |
|
Oil |
1.4% |
|
Natural Gas |
43.0% |
|
Renewables |
27.3% |
|
Of which: |
|
|
Hydro |
2.8% |
|
Wind |
22.8% |
|
Landfill gas, biogas, biomass and renewable wastes |
1.7% |
|
Non-Renewable Wastes |
0.3% |
|
Net Imports |
2.3% |
