asked the Minister for Energy if he is satisfied with the progress being made here in the development of the various forms of alternative energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alternative Energy.
12.
My Department have spent over £900,000 over the past three years on a number of alternative energy projects. In addition, approximately £1 million has been spent by the ESB, and £1.7 million by Bord na Móna and the Forestry and Wildlife Service, with EEC assistance.
The principal lesson which has been learned so far is that, however attractive they may be in theory, the practical harnessing of renewable energy sources is by no means simple. The engineering and economic risks are high, and it is likely to be a considerable time before they are reduced to an acceptable level.
In view of the uncertainties attaching to renewable energy economics, and in view of the need for careful control of Government expenditure, it would not be appropriate to embark on a more expensive renewable energy programme. I intend, however, to complete the projects which are already underway in order to get the maximum amount of information from them. We are linked with technology research abroad and will continue to keep abreast of developments elsewhere to learn as much as possible about the suitability of alternative energy sources in Irish conditions so that we will be in a good position to take advantage of new developments as soon as they arise. This will be the underlying basis for expenditure by my Department in the next few years.
Do I take it from the Minister's reply that all the steam has gone out of alternative energy and it is no longer as fashionable as it was four or five years ago? Is it the intention of the Department to expand in any way on the very limited number of schemes in which they are involved?
The Deputy may take it that there is a budgetary constraint on expenditure by my Department but it is proper to state that the main renewable energy projects for which there are resource surveys lie in the area of wind-power, hydro-power and geothermal energy. There are demonstration projects in relation to wind-power, hydro-power, biomass, solar and wave-power. That covers a wide range of alternative energy sources. As I stated in my reply, we will carry out the existing programme as budgeted for.
How much has been spent on wave-power in recent years?
We gave a grant to UCC to carry out research but I do not have the amount of the grant on file.
Will the Minister of State agree that it seems from his reply to this and earlier questions that biomass is proving unsatisfactory, that wind-power is proving unsatisfactory, that geothermal is a rather remote possibility here as is solar power and that the only practical possibility that appears to be left of all the alternative energies that were so fashionable in the House and elsewhere four or five years ago is wave-power in which Ireland has perhaps a greater vested interest than any other country?
That is a nice speech on the information the Deputy has got from the Minister.
Could the Minister of State not divert some of the spending where we have learned some expensive lessons in regard to certain forms of alternative energy into wave energy?
We are at the experimental stage in regard to alternative energy. I have indicated the areas the Department will continue to be involved in as far as we are allowed by budgetary constraints. I noted that Deputy O'Malley, speaking at the recent Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, stated that ignoring short term panic-related increases it seemed to him to be very likely we would see in the medium and long term a decrease in the price of oil in real terms. If the Deputy believes that he will also accept that if there is to be a continued decline in the real oil crisis it will be very difficult for renewable sources of energy to take over from oil.
We are going into the question of policy and Question Time is not about that.
That is an economic fact.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Chair does not have any control over the way questions are answered but the Chair has control over the way questions should be dealt with. It appears to the Chair that an opportunity is being given to get information in reply to questions and there will be ample opportunities to make elaborate statements and speeches on this on other occasions. This is not the occasion for such speeches.
I am glad my ideas are getting across.
I should like to ask the Minister of State if his Department are examining the study on the generation of energy from domestic refuse and when the Department may be in a position to comment on it?
That is not in the question put to me but I understand that the ESB are considering the matter.
Another expensive method.