Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 June 2012
99 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding wind and gas energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27616/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's energy policy priorities are framed in the context of the European Union. Policy is based on pursuing the objective of a sustainable, competitive and secure supply of energy. Natural gas is the predominant fuel for power generation in Ireland accounting for over 60 per cent of electricity generation. Overall, it continues to be an important fuel for power generation, and remains the fuel of choice for new thermal power station projects. The predominant future fuel mix for power generation over the medium term is projected to be gas and renewable energy. This policy approach is an approach that is complementary. The planned ‘merchant' Shannon LNG terminal near Ballylongford in the Shannon Estuary is supported by the Government as a means of providing additional security of supply for Ireland in that it would bring diversity to gas supply sources and give connectivity to the global LNG market.
EU policy has focused in recent years on bringing about change in Europe's electricity and gas markets, for example, as regards industry structure, the extent of competition, security of gas supply and greater EU energy market integration. EU targets have been set for 2020 in relation to both energy efficiency and renewable energy. These EU developments recognise Member States' subsidiarity in relation to the fuel mix. The successful implementation of these policies should contribute to a lesser dependence on fossil fuels, including gas, and therefore a lower vulnerability to global price increases in such fuels.
Directive 2009/28/EC imposes a legally binding target on Ireland for a 16% share of renewable energy in all energy consumed by 2020, with a minimum of 10% in the transport sector. Ireland has set targets of 40% renewable electricity, 12% renewable heating and 10% renewable transport by 2020. The combined effect of these sectoral targets is commensurate with the achievement of the overall 16% target. In 2011 around 17% of Ireland's electricity was generated by renewable technologies.
The latest modelling undertaken by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that capacity of around 4000MW of renewable generation will be required on the system to deliver the 40% renewable electricity target by 2020. Ireland's National Renewable Energy Action Plan, available on the Department's website, indicates that of the 40% renewable electricity required, approximately 36% is expected to be from wind generation.
EirGrid's latest data, which is available on their website, shows that at the end of 2011, Ireland had 1900MW of renewable generation on the grid. This includes 1630MW of connected wind, 234MW of hydro and 46MW of additional other renewable generation.
In addition to projects already connected, there is around 1000MW from the Gate 1 and Gate 2 rounds which have contracted and are scheduled to be built out and connected over the next few years. Around 4,000MW of additional renewable capacity is provided for in the Gate 3 process. Policy and regulatory interventions designed to facilitate and encourage renewable electricity include REFIT as a price support mechanism and priority dispatch.
EirGrid's Grid 25 strategy and implementation plans are designed to deliver the necessary grid developments and grid reinforcements to underpin the new renewable generating capacity, as well as to support regional economic development.
EirGrid has also developed a programme to manage the integration of high levels of renewable electricity on the system from a grid operations perspective over the coming years. The East-West Interconnector and the planned North-South Interconnector will play a key role in integrating large amounts of intermittent generation into the electrical system. EirGrid's programme, known as DS3, includes enhancing generation portfolio performance, developing new operational policies and systems to efficiently use the generation portfolio to the best of its capabilities and regularly reviewing the needs of the system as the portfolio capability evolves. Further information is available on EirGrid's website at:
http://www.eirgrid.com/operations/ds3/.
