Renewable Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023

Monday, 11 September 2023

Questions (123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 131, 159)

Richard Bruton

Question:

123. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown in the use of biomass for electricity generation. [38272/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

124. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current level of solar activity. [38273/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

125. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected solar activity by 2030. [38274/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

126. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current level of hydroelectric activity. [38275/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

127. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected hydroelectric activity by 2030. [38276/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current level of renewable energy generated by wind, broken down by onshore and offshore. [38277/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

129. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of projected level of renewable energy generate by wind by 2030, broken down by onshore and offshore. [38278/23]

Richard Bruton

Question:

131. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current installed capacity of wind power, broken down by commercial and domestic production. [38282/23]

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Government’s plans to develop solar power as part of Ireland’s 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38672/23]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 131 and 159 together.

Ireland has made considerable progress in decarbonising our electricity sector, with a major driver for this being the construction of renewable generation projects and their successful integration onto the electricity grid.

2022 was a record year for renewable generation capacity being connected to the grid. The below table sets out the estimated generation capacity for the requested renewable sources.

Type of Generation	Level of Generation
Onshore Wind	c. 4,562 MW
Offshore Wind	c. 25 MW
Solar PV	c. 700 MW
Hydroelectric	c. 235 MW
Biomass	c. 9 MW

Under the Climate Action Plan 2023, Government has committed to Ireland achieving 80% of electricity demand from renewable sources and to reach at least 22 GW of installed renewable electricity generation capacity by 2030. The below table sets out the targeted generation capacity for the requested renewable sources.

Type of Generation	CAP23 Target
Onshore Wind	9 GW
Offshore Wind	5 GW
Solar PV	8 GW

There are no specific targets for hydroelectric or biomass generation.

The Government schemes to help deliver these targets are as follows:

• The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is the main policy to deliver the onshore renewable electricity generation capacity targets. Projects with a combined capacity 2.8 GW (onshore wind and solar PV) were successful in the first two RESS auctions. The third auction will be held shortly.

• The recent Offshore RESS (ORESS) is the policy to deliver the offshore targets. The recent ORESS1 auction surpassed all expectations, securing an enormous volume of renewable electricity, over 3 GW. This was the first in a series of auctions to procure at least 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

• Onshore and Offshore RESS auctions will continue in line with the published RESS Auction Calendar.

• The Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) allows domestic and non-domestic applicants to receive funding to produce and consume their own electricity.

• The Small-Scale RESS (SRESS) will support renewable electricity generators who are too large for the MSS but too small for the RESS and will provide a similar route to market for community projects. The high-level design of the new Small-Scale RESS (SRESS) was approved by Government a few weeks ago and the scheme is expected to be launched later this year.

Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 123.

Question No. 125 answered with Question No. 123.

Question No. 126 answered with Question No. 123.

Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 123.

Question No. 128 answered with Question No. 123.

Question No. 129 answered with Question No. 123.