Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Alternative Energy Projects.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

449 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the actual deployment of wind energy under the various AER schemes to date; his further views on whether these are successful in terms of delivery; if he will instruct his officials to prepare a new scheme similar to that appropriate in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20165/02]

The alternative energy requirement programme, AER, is the support measure used by my Department to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources, including wind energy, to overall electricity production in this country.

Since the programme was launched in 1995, five AER competitions have supported the development of alternative and renewable energy based electricity generating plant. Three of these competitions included a wind energy category.

The published target for wind energy in AER I was 30 megawatts, MWs, and 46 MWs was built. In AER III the published target was 90 MW and 40 MW was built. A further five wind farms, with a total capacity of 16 MWs, supported under the European Commission's THERMIE programme, were awarded AER contracts and are in operation. In all 17 wind farms have become operational under the AER programme since its commencement in 1995.
In February this year the results of the most recent competition, AER V, were announced. The published target was 240 MW. Due to the quality and volume of applications submitted and the need to provide for unforeseen project retirements the support was increased to 345 MW. These projects will typically build during 2003 or 2004.
Following the completion of AER III and prior to the launch of AER V a strategy group was established to report on impediments to the greater deployment of wind energy. The group concluded that a significant proportion of proposed projects in AER III failed to proceed due to subsequent failure in the planning process. The group therefore recommended that subsequent AER competitions should include planning consent as a condition of entry to the competition. This recommendation was incorporated into AER V.
I am confident that AER V, confined to projects with planning consent, will more than deliver on the initial target. Overall, therefore, I am satisfied the AER programme, including the increased targets in each successive competition, is a successful intervention in the market to ensure the completion of projects which would not otherwise be built.
It is my intention to announce a further competition, AER VI, shortly to deliver the overall demanding target of an additional 500 MW of new generating plant based on renewable energy technologies by 2005.
I have already indicated to the market that, following the launch of AER VI, I will commence a public consultation programme to gauge an appropriate target for subsequent years and to decide the most appropriate support mechanisms to be adopted.
Barr
Roinn