Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
210. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the amount of carbon emissions as a result of the activities of the Defence Forces; the plans of the Defence Forces to reduce its carbon output; the breakdown of the extra carbon emissions emitted as a result of extra duties carried out by the Defence Forces through memberships of PESCO and EPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36889/21]
View answerThe Defence Forces, as a public body, reports its Total Final Consumption (TFC) through SEAIs Monitoring and Reporting System. In 2020, the activities of the Defence Forces accounted for 46.8m kg CO2. This includes all electricity, thermal and transport (road, air and sea) energy consumption. .
The Defence Forces Senior Energy Executive (SEE) approves the Annual Energy Plan of Action for the Defence Forces. The SEE has been examining courses of action to achieve 2030 decarbonisation targets across all energy types. The current Plan of Action includes energy saving initiatives across all domains (naval, air and road transport and infrastructure) such as electrification of heating through the use of heat pumps, use of EVs for administration road transport and increasing onsite electricity generationwith solar photo-voltaic systems while also examining a number of potential wind turbine projects. The SEE has also established a working group to examine the use of Sustainable and Alternate Fuels (SAF) for naval vessels, aircraft and heavy vehicles.
The Defence Organisation has fully engaged with green procurement and where ever possible green procurement considerations are utilised as either selection or award criteria in procurement projects published to the market. All future infrastructure projects, be they new build or refurbishment, will consider and include appropriate options to improve and optimise the energy efficiency of our defence infrastructure.
The Defence Forces are actively involved in the EDA Energy and Environment Working Group and the European Commission funded Consultation Forum on Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector. Both of these fora bring together experts from the defence and energy sectors to share information and best practices on improving energy management, energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy as well increasing the protection and resilience of defence energy-related critical infrastructures. Ireland also participates in the EDA Smart Water Camps project, a water management project which aims to address environmental concerns with regard to water usage on military bases. There is also an energy related PESCO project, Energy Operational Function, on which Ireland has observer status. Participation in PESCO and the EPF will not of themselves give rise to any additional carbon emmisions.
Senior civil and military management engage at the Strategic Management Committee, which comprises the senior leadership teams from the Department and the Defence Forces, to ensure coherence in climate change actions.
