Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which it is intended to use renewable energy as a means of carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10777/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which it is intended to use wind energy as a means of carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10782/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 202 together.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 establishes a system of carbon budgeting with a ‘carbon budget programme’ comprising three five-year economy-wide budgets that set a limit, on an economy wide basis, for the amount of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions that can be emitted in that period. The carbon budgets will be supplemented by sectoral emissions ceilings, setting the maximum amount of GHG emissions that are permitted in a given sector of the economy during each five-year carbon budget.
Under the Climate Action Plan 2021, Ireland has a target to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030. This will contribute to Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by substituting primarily wind and solar electricity generation for fossil fuel electricity generation, as well as displacing emissions in other sectors, including household heating and car transport.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland’s flagship policy to deliver on the Government’s target of up to 80% renewable electricity by the end of the decade. The first Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) auction for onshore wind and solar projects was held in 2020 and the first RESS 1 projects have now reached commercial operation with further projects to reach commercial operation throughout 2022. The second RESS auction process has begun with the qualification application window having closed in January and the auction is scheduled to take place in May.
As well as this, Government has recently approved a Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) which supports deployment of an expected 260 MW of new micro (<50 kW) renewable generation by 2030. My Department is also developing a small-scale generator scheme for farmers, business, and communities to generate their own electricity and feed into the grid.
Ireland has considerable offshore renewable energy (ORE) potential with a target of 5 GW by 2030. Ireland’s intention is to move to a plan-led approach to the development of the ORE sector. A new Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP II) will be completed by the end of 2022.
This year, my Department opened a consultation on the proposed assessment criteria for the first batch of Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications from a set of seven qualified ORE projects. Consultation is also currently open on how the second batch of projects (Phase 2) will be selected to enter the new consenting system. My Department is also finalising the terms and conditions on the first of three planned auctions this decade for the offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS).
