Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 October 2005
184 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of alternatively sourced electricity produced here as a percentage of total requirement; the way in which this compares with other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the Scandinavian countries, Austria or Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28068/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra239 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of alternatively sourced electricity produced here as a percentage of total requirement; the way in which this compares with other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the Scandinavian countries, Austria or Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28111/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 239 together.
In 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, 5.1% of the gross electricity consumption in Ireland came from renewable energy electricity generating plant. According to official EUROSTAT data, in 2002, the latest year for which it has posted information, the total share of gross electricity consumption from renewables was 2.9% in the United Kingdom, 47% in Sweden, 19.8% in Denmark, 68.3% in Austria and 8.1% in Germany. No data were supplied for Norway. The very high share of renewables in the electricity mix in Sweden and Austria is explained by those countries large hydro-resources. The figure supplied for Ireland by EUROSTAT in 2002 was 5.5%, which is explained by higher hydro-production and lower overall consumption.
