Robert Troy
Ceist:150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has carried out any cost benefit analysis of the potential exporting of wind energy to the UK. [20707/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 1 May 2013
Ceisteanna (150)
Freagraí scríofa
A preliminary cost benefit analysis of the potential for the exporting of wind energy to the United Kingdom was completed in 2012 which indicated that in principle the project has potential positive economic and employment benefits. In particular, it indicated that if an Inter-Governmental Agreement is entered into between Ireland and the UK, there are potential significant employment opportunities. As an example, employment creation arising from a 3,000MW project would be expected to be in the order of 3,000 to 6,000 job years in the construction phase, with the actual number dependent on the construction schedule to 2020. There would also be additional jobs created in the on-going maintenance of turbines over a 20-year operating life. Further employment opportunities could arise if turbines or components were to be manufactured in Ireland. All relevant State agencies, particularly in the enterprise area, would have to coordinate their activities early in the process to ensure the employment potential of export projects is maximised. This opportunity has already been identified by the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland in their clean technology growth strategies.
The Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation that United Kingdom Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey and I signed on 24 January this year will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United Kingdom, including undertaking further analysis of the costs and benefits of renewable energy trading for Ireland and the United Kingdom. This detailed and complex work is underway and will include examining various options for support mechanisms, grid, return to the exchequer, and risk. It will complete the determination as to whether it is beneficial for both countries to enter into an Inter-Governmental Agreement under the Renewable Energy Directive to provide for renewable energy trading.