Damien English
Ceist:154 Mr. English asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of his plans to promote renewable energy. [6336/03]
Written Answers - Alternative Energy Projects.
The promotion of renewable energy technologies is an established key priority of this Government. My immediate goal is to add an additional 500 megawatts of renewables based electricity generating capacity to the electricity network by 2005. Last week I announced the most intensive support programme ever to assist developers of renewable energy projects. The 6th alternative energy requirement competition, AER VI, will offer support to 578 mw of new renewable energy projects in a range of renewable technologies to be built between now and the end of 2005.
The alternative energy requirement programme, AER, operated by my Department supports the building of new renewable energy based electricity generating stations. Under this programme selected projects are offered guaranteed power purchase contracts with the ESB for 15 years. These guaranteed contracts reassure investors and allow developers to source investment finance which would not otherwise by available.
The terms for AER VI are the most intensive support programme ever to assist developers and include 100% indexation on the bid price in each case and the introduction of a mechanism to allow front loaded payments in the early years of the contract. The AER VI programme is such that there is no reason some projects cannot build this year with substantial growth following in 2004 and more challenging projects generating by 2005. While most of the new energy will come from onshore wind projects, for the first time the competition offers 50 mw from offshore generation. Other green generators under the scheme are landfill gas, small-scale hydro power plants, anaerobic digestion plants and biomass steam cycle CHP.
Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, now established as an independent non-commercial State body focused exclusively on sustainable use of energy including deployment of renewable energy sources, has already commenced a challenging work programme to increase energy efficiency and to promote renewable energy technologies. In the renewable energy field specifically SEI has opened a research, development and demonstration programme for renewable energy technologies. The programme is open to a wide range of proposals including policy studies, field research, feasibility studies and technology RD&D. Further information on this programme is available directly from Sustainable Energy Ireland, www.sei.ie.
I am satisfied the AER VI programme and the work programme of the SEI will see significant growth in renewable energy projects over the next two or three years. I have previously stated that I will soon engage in a public consultation programme on all issues facing the renewable energy sector. This will provide all interested parties with the opportunity to make submissions on all topical issues, including the strengths and weaknesses of the current support system for renewables, the merits of alternative support systems and the setting of fresh targets to 2010 and beyond.