Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:132 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the degree to which she expects to direct the relevant authorities to develop wind energy in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29998/01]
Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Projects.
Rather than issue direc tions to specific authorities I have set an overall target to support the construction of an additional 500 megawatts of renewable energy based electricity generating capacity to be installed by 2005. The bulk of this target will come from the wind energy technology.
The revised target will be achieved through an open tender arrangement or by independent developers operating in the electricity market which was entirely liberalised for renewable energy based electricity under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. As part of the process to ensure the target is delivered by 2005, I have launched the fifth competition in the AER series, AER V. Through the competition, contracts for 255 MW of renewable energy based plant – or half the 500 megawatt target – have been offered, including 200 megawatts in the large scale wind energy category and a further 40 megawatts in the small scale wind energy category. This is the largest offering ever to the Irish market.
Question No. 133 answered with Question No. 38.
Questions Nos. 134 and 135 answered with Question No. 49.