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Renewable Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (1178)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

1178. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of energy being produced each day from renewable sources; his targets for wind and solar generated power by 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15756/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Energy White Paper presents a long-term strategic vision that is intended to guide the direction of Irish energy policy from now until 2030. It identifies the long-term strategic importance of diversifying Ireland's energy generation portfolio and largely decarbonising the energy sector by 2050.  It does not set out targets for specific renewable technologies; rather it provides a framework to guide policy between now and 2030.

 Increasing renewable technology diversity is one of several policy objectives of my Department. Current financial supports for renewable electricity projects in Ireland are largely provided via the Renewable Electricity Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which support renewable electricity generated and exported onto the national grid. To date, onshore wind has been the largest driver of growth in renewable energy electricity.  My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. While at this point no final decisions have been made as regards which technologies will be supported, I welcome and have noted with interest the falling costs of renewable technologies over the past year, such as offshore wind and solar PV. 

In addition, Ireland's renewable energy portfolio post-2020 will have regard to our obligations and member state contribution that may be agreed as part of an EU-wide renewables target under the new Renewable Energy Directive, that is currently being negotiated under the Clean Energy Package.

Details in relation to electricity system demand and fuel mix are publicly available on the EirGrid website at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/.

The following table provides a breakdown of 2016 generation for all technologies on a percentage basis.  

Generation Technology

Proportions of electricity generated (%) (2016) 

Oil

1.0%

Peat

7.7%

Coal

15.6%

Natural Gas

50.6%

Wind

(normalised)

20.4%

(22.3%)

Hydro

(normalised)

2.3%

(2.5%)

Other Renewables & Wastes

2.5%

Total

100%

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