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Renewable Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2020

Wednesday, 15 July 2020

Questions (69)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which non-fossil generated electricity is currently capable of meeting the demands of the national grid; if progress to date is adequate in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16206/20]

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Written answers

The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) in their Energy in Ireland - 2019 report have estimated that the share of electricity from renewable energy increased almost fivefold between 2005 and 2018 - from 7.2% to 33.2% - an increase of 26 percentage points over 13 years. The provisional figure for 2019 is 36.7%.

The Programme for Government commits to taking the steps to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 by inter alia:

- Holding the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction by the end of 2020, with auctions held each year thereafter, including the first RESS auction for offshore wind in 2021;

- Giving cross-government priority to the drafting of the Marine Planning and Development Bill, so that it is published as soon as possible and enacted within nine months;

- Producing a whole-of-government plan setting out how we will deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and how we will develop the necessary skills base, supply chains, legislation, and infrastructure to enable it

- Finalising and publishing the Wind Energy Guidelines;

- Developing a Solar Energy Strategy for rooftop and ground, based photovoltaics, to ensure that a greater share of our electricity needs is met through solar power;

- Continuing Eirgrid’s programme ‘Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System’ (DS3).

Good progress is already being made on a number of these commitments and, next week, projects will compete in the first auction under the RESS. This will deliver new renewable energy projects to the grid at scale, for the first time ever targeting solar farms to power Irish homes. Onshore and offshore wind will also be developed through the RESS auctions, with the first offshore wind auction planned for next year.

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