Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
289. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied with the importation of peat and coal briquettes to Ireland due to the wind down of production in Ireland in line with measures to phase out fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20653/21]
View answer290. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of peat, peat and coal briquettes, wood briquettes and coal imported to Ireland in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [20654/21]
View answer291. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of peat, peat and coal briquettes and coal produced here in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [20655/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 289, 290 and 291 together.
Data on the importation, exportation and indigenous production of fuels such as peat, coal and biomass are published in the National Energy Balance by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The data is reported in terms of kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe) and the latest available annual data relates to 2019. 2020 data is expected with the publication of the final energy balance in October. The data is available from the SEAI website here: https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/key-statistics/energy-data/
In terms of peat, production is reported to have reduced from 744 ktoe in 2017 to 391 ktoe in 2019. No peat imports were reported for this period.
In terms of peat briquettes, production is reported to have reduced from 75 ktoe in 2017 to 54 ktoe in 2019. There were no peat briquette imports reported for this period. Peat briquettes are produced from milled peat, and the National Energy Balance, therefore, reports these figures under Transformation Output.
In terms of coal, no production was reported for the years 2017 to 2019. Imports have decreased year-on-year from a 2017 level of 1,292 ktoe to 216 ktoe in 2019.
In terms of coal briquettes and ovoids, indigenous production of these products is reported under Exchanges and transfers and increased from 29 ktoe in 2017 to 33 ktoe in 2019. Imports of these products are reported together with anthracite and total imports in this category have reduced from 102 ktoe in 2017 to 81 ktoe in 2019.
Wood briquettes, as a relatively minor fuel source, are reported as part of total solid biomass figures. Other fuels in this category include wood, wood pellets, wood chips, energy crops and some solid bio wastes such as tallow. Production under this heading is reported to have declined slightly from 248 ktoe in 2017 to 237 ktoe in 2019. In the same period, imports have also slightly declined from 28 ktoe to 25 ktoe.
