Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
1131. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of wind turbines currently in the State; the current number applied for; the additional number needed to reach the Government's 40% generation from wind target; and if he will provide these figures both in turbine numbers, capacity output and real-time output predictions. [22218/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Good progress is being made towards increasing the share of renewable energy in our generation portfolio.
The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid at the beginning of March 2015 (latest data) was just under 2,600 MW of which 2,200 MW is wind. A further 3,700 MW of renewable generation is contracted for connection to the grid, of which almost 3,600 MW is wind generation. Detailed information in relation to the amount of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the electricity grid, including capacity that is contracted for connection, is available on EirGrid’s and ESB Networks’ websites at www.eirgrid.com and www.esb.ie respectively.
Provisional figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicate that the total contribution from renewable generation to gross electricity consumption in 2014 was 22.6%. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to achieve 40% renewable electricity.
Information in regard to actual and forecast wind generation is available at http://smartgriddashboard.eirgrid.com/#all/wind.
Looking to the European Union's emerging climate and energy targets for 2030, it is likely that all member states will be required to expand their renewable electricity generation portfolios beyond their 2020 capacities.
