Vol. 527 No. 1
49 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has commissioned any studies on the potential of wave power as an energy source; the plans there are to commercially exploit this resource; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26550/00]
My Department provided funding towards the costs of the "Total Renewable Energy Resource in Ireland" report prepared jointly by ESB International and the UK consultancy firm, Energy Technology Support Unit, ETSU, and supported under the Euro pean Union's ALTENER programme. The report was published in 1998.
With regard to our wave energy resource, the report concluded that Ireland has a considerable potential for generating electricity from wave power. However, the establishment of a pilot plant and further research are needed to advance this technology to commercial operation.
I have secured funding of £40 million under the national development plan for energy related research, development and demonstration. The funding will be used to devise a strategy for the energy area in general which will consist of a mixture of the following approaches: a public good fully funded research programme in co-operation with universities and research institutions; a shared cost programme to be carried out with industry to exploit commercial opportunities; and international collaborative research.
The further development of wave energy can be expected to feature under one or other of these approaches. The Irish Energy Centre is currently preparing a three-year research and development work programme with the objective of achieving the most effective outcome at least cost. The programme will be funded as part of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme.
50 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the measures her Department has undertaken to promote renewable energy here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26581/00]
Since 1995 my Department has organised a number of competitions under the alternative energy requirement programme to increase the installed electricity generation capacity from renewable resources. To date a total of 96 megawatts have been installed under this programme. In addition, successful Irish projects under the EU THERMIE Measure have been awarded contracts to sell renewables based electricity to the ESB. Some 15 megawatts have been installed under this initiative to date.
In September 1999 I set an increased target of 500 MWe of renewable energy based electricity generating plant to be delivered by 2, 005. It is estimated this will increase the production of electricity from all renewable energy sources from 6% to 12% of total electricity production.
In addition, the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, removed any legal impediment to independent participation in generating and selling green electricity. Consequently, it is now open to the private sector to grow the market beyond the ambitious minimum target that I have set.
