asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline his proposals for the provision of an experimental biomass generating station at Bellacorick, County Mayo, and if his attention has been drawn to fact that the present rate of planting will be insufficient to meet the demands of the proposed experimental station.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Biomass Station.
23.
I am informed by the National Board for Science and Technology that the proposals for the provision of an experimental biomass generating station arose as a logical outcome of R & D work undertaken following the energy crisis of 1973 on biomass conversion. This involves the use of organic material as a fuel or as the source of petro-chemical substitutes. The main focus of such R & D in Ireland was on the production and use of short rotation forestry and forestry residues.
Under the EEC scheme for the granting of financial support for projects to exploit alternative energy sources, a biomass demonstration project was formulated with the NBST acting as a general co-ordinator and involving activities by the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, the ESB, Bord na Móna and An Foras Talúntais. The project initiation date was 2 April 1979.
The total cost of the project over the five year period 1979-84 was estimated at £4.50 million. The cost involved in the first two years of the project is approximately £1,250,000,40 per cent of which will be met by EEC funds. After this the project will be reviewed by the EEC for subsequent funding.
This demonstration project involves: the growth and harvesting of short rotation forestry biomass; the recovery of conventional forestry residues; the on-site processing and transportation of this biomass; the combustion of this biomass in a central electricity generating station.
Bellacorick, County Mayo was chosen as the site for a demonstration project because of the following advantages: its proximity to the chosen conversion facility, namely, the ESB station; the availability of ESB generating and transmission infrastructure; the availability of up to 1,000 acres of peat cutaway; the availability of 500 acres suitable for high yielding forestry plantation; the availability of existing mature conventional forestry from which the residue could be made available to the combustion facility.
The planned programme of planting, which is geared to the demands of the proposed experimental station is, I am advised, generally on schedule.
When does the Minister expect that the experimental station will come into operation?
I do not know if I have this information available here but I was under the impression that the station is there. The supply of biomass as a raw material at the station is a new development. Was that the Deputy's question?
The rotation of biomass is five to seven years. There are reports that the rate of planting will not be sufficient to give the equivalent output that the mills use at present.
I understand that Bord na Móna are planting 400 hectares of short rotation forestry and half of this would be at Oweninny, County Mayo, and the other half at Clonsast in County Offaly. In addition, the Department of Fisheries and Forestry are planting 200 hectares at Bellacorick. It is proposed that the ESB would be supplied with 15,000 tons of dry matter per year and that the balance between the biomass produced from the short rotation forestry and the 15,000 tons would be made up of forest residue. There is some leeway there, but the overall requirement will be met so that there will not be any reduction in the output of the station.