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Renewable Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018

Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Questions (474, 475)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

474. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of imported biomass in each of the past five years to date; the location from which it came; the generating stations at which it was consumed; the amount of electricity produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53973/18]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

475. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of entities importing biomass; the generating stations to which the fuel is deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53974/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together.

Information regarding the sources of electricity generation including biomass are publicly available in the report entitled Energy in Ireland, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) earlier this month and available on the their website at www.seai.ie.

SEAI’s data shows that in 2017, approximately €439 million in fossil fuel imports were avoided by the use of renewable energy and that electricity generated from biomass accounted for 8% of renewable electricity in 2017. In terms of Ireland’s energy balance, imports of renewable energy in 2017 were 159 kilo tonnes of oil equivalent (Ktoe) which includes biomass for use in electricity generation.

Specific data regarding the fuel supply of individual generating stations is a commercial matter for the companies involved. Regarding biomass used for electricity generation at the Edenderry co-firing plant, Bord na Mona’s most recent annual report states that 80% of the biomass used in the Edenderry power station in the year to end March 2018 came from domestic sources.

The table below provides data from SEAI in tonnes of oil equivalent of biomass used for electricity generation for biomass co-firing and Combined Heat and Power from 2012 to 2017.

Biomass (ktoe)

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Input in cofiring

1,158

1,969

2,304

1,689

3,553

3,440

Input into CHP

179

161

127

105

122

121

Output from cofiring

159

213

251

184

379

366

Output from CHP

20

14

14

13

16

16

Questions Nos. 476 and 477 answered with Question No. 467.
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