Vol. 570 No. 2
343 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of funds which will be made available to Sustainable Energy Ireland over the next three year period; and the way in which these funds will be allocated. [18709/03]
The operations and activities of Sustainable Energy Ireland are funded by means of a grant-in-aid in my Department's annual Estimates provision. Some €13.47 million has been provided in this regard in this year's Estimate provision. The grant-in-aid provision for 2004 in respect of Sustainable Energy Ireland will be set in the context of the finalisation of the 2004 Estimates. The pre-budget or abridged Estimates for 2004 will not be finalised by Government until November this year with the final or Revised Estimates being published in February of 2004. In accordance with the multi-annual budgeting process, existing level of service provisions for 2005 and 2006 will also be agreed in the context of the finalisation of the 2004 Estimates. In September 2002 Sustainable Energy Ireland published its five-year strategy for the period between 2002 and 2007. This document sets out SEI's key programmes and targets for the delivery of the sustainable energy priority of the ESIOP/NDP 2000-06.
344 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of funding Sustainable Energy Ireland has made available for renewable energy projects since its conception. [18710/03]
Sustainable Energy Ireland's renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme has a funding budget of €16.25 million under the national development plan. It was officially launched in July 2002. The focus of the programme is on stimulating the deployment of renewable energies that are close to market and to assess and develop technologies which have prospects for the future. This could include measures to identify the prospective resource; to stimulate the development of the technologies; to produce implementation plans for those with economic potential; to remove barriers to the deployment of renewable energy; and to help to stimulate an Irish renewable energy industry. This funding is undertaken in the categories of shared cost, public good – full funding – and international collaboration. Based on contracts signed or issued to date, the amount committed under the renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme is approximately €673,500. A further 22 applications which are currently under consideration for funding may be eligible for support of up to €3.5 million. Projects funded to date include those in the renewable energy areas of biomass, wind, wave, solar and geothermal.
345 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to give Sustainable Energy Ireland more powers to ensure that the renewable energy sector is properly developed here. [18711/03]
The Sustainable Energy Act 2002 set out the functions of Sustainable Energy Ireland. Section 6(b) sets out one of the functions of SEI as being “to promote and assist energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy”. In pursuance of these functions, SEI has established a sustainable energy services section with a remit to stimulate the application and further development of renewable energies. Within its existing powers and in the context of the EURES directive, I have asked Sustainable Energy Ireland to assist my Department in the drafting of a consultation document for the future support mechanisms for renewable energy. I shall be pleased to release details of this document this month. SEI has over the months of May and June and in parallel with the above organised a lecture series, Perspectives from Abroad, to inform the industry and policy makers. Eminent speakers from the US and Australia and policy-makers from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands contributed to this series.
346 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he will announce AER VI. [18712/03]
The most recent AER competition, AER VI, which I launched earlier this year, closed for the receipt of tenders on 24 April last. A full assessment of all bids is ongoing and I expect to announce the results before the end of this week. I am satisfied that the level of interest expressed in AER VI combined with projects proceeding under the previous AER V round will ensure that the 500 megawatt target set for the sector will be delivered by 2005.
347 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if more than 500 will be offered under AER VI. [18713/03]
The European Commission has determined that the AER programme involves the payment of state aid to the generators of electricity supported by the programme. I must ensure, therefore, that the contracts awarded under the recent AER V and AER VI competitions do not exceed the quantity approved by the Commission. Therefore, the combined capacity value of contracts awarded at any time cannot exceed 500 megawatts in aggregate in the biomass, hydro and onshore wind categories. In addition, a Commission decision is awaited for 50 megawatts in the offshore wind category and 28 megawatts in the biomass, combined heat and power, category. The creation of a reserve list and constant monitoring of applications for connections to the electricity network should ensure failing projects can be quickly withdrawn and the capacity re-allocated to ensure the overall targets are delivered by 2005.
