Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
1133. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has completed a hydro-geological study on the cumulative impact of the Government's proposal to produce 40% of our electricity from wind in view of the amount of concrete needed for each turbine base, hard stand areas and associated road infrastructure required by turbines. [22220/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that between 3,500MW and 4,000MW of renewable electricity generation will be required to achieve the target of 40% renewable electricity by 2020. Given that we already have 2,600MW in place, we will need between approximately 900MW and 1,400MW additional generation to meet our 2020 target.
Typically, an individual wind farm project is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) where the wind farm has greater than five turbines or a generating capacity greater than 5MW. This means, as part of the planning process, the project proposer must prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) examining the impact the particular development, such as a wind farm, will have on the receiving and surrounding environment. The EIA is then carried out by the appropriate competent planning authority on a project specific basis.
Separately, my Department is preparing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, which is to be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment and focusing on requirements out to 2030. The Environmental Report developed to inform the Strategic Environmental Assessment will include areas designated pursuant to the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, and will also assess any effects on the environment including on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, climatic factors, material assets and cultural heritage and the interrelationship between the above factors.
The proposed Framework will be completed in early 2016, and will be a high level strategic policy, which is intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily in relation to large scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence in the coming weeks with the publication of the Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report.
