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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.

David Stanton

Ceist:

183 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the use of landfill gas as a fuel source; the amount of electricity which is generated here from landfill gas sources; her estimate of the additional amount of electricity which could be harnessed from landfills throughout the country; her further plans to develop this area of electricity generation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17085/01]

Technologies to produce electricity from landfill gas are well established both here in Ireland and in other countries. The alternative energy requirement programme, administered by my Department, has supported landfill gas projects totalling 14.7 megawatts.

The report Total Renewable Energy Resource in Ireland, 1997, prepared jointly by ESB International and the UK consultancy firm, Energy Technology Support Unit, ETSU, calculated that under certain assumptions, a potential landfill gas resource of 147 GWh, gigawatt hours, in year 2000. The actual contribution in year 2000 was 91 GWh.

On 25 May last, I launched the fifth AER competition, AER V, which will offer contracts totaling 255 megawatts. The indicative target I have published for the biomass category, which includes landfill gas, is ten megawatts. I should not comment further about the likely success of any particular technology within the biomass category while the competitive process is ongoing. The final date for the receipt of tenders in AER V is the 30 August next.

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