Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
55. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the estimated percentage of the renewable electricity generation capacity that is in public indirect ownership through State or semi-State bodies. [42186/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein such markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. State owned enterprises and private sector companies operate within this competitive framework to deliver the overall lowest cost to consumers over the lifetime of the investment. This includes competitions for support for investment in the generation of renewable energy such as the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).
As such, while state-owned bodies may own and operate renewable energy developments, these bodies do so on a commercial basis. With regard to the commercial state companies under the aegis of my Department, ESB and Bord na Móna have a mixed portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets, which includes wind, hydro, landfill gas, and biomass which amounts to approximately 1,240MW or 27% of renewable energy generation capacity in Ireland.
This includes renewable electricity generation assets that are owned individually by either ESB or Bord na Móna; those owned jointly by ESB and/or Bord na Móna and other state owned companies and those owned by either ESB or Bord na Móna and a private commercial entity. In addition, state bodies not under the aegis of my Department may have their own portfolios of renewable electricity generation assets. The figure above refers only to renewable generation assets within the State and is expected to increase as assets under construction become fully operational.
