Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
85. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will request all electricity producing companies on the island of Ireland to cease the burning of all fuels in ten years' time and to instead use Ireland’s natural resources, that is, wind, wave and solar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42982/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan 2021 provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government. It will put Ireland on a more sustainable path; cut emissions; create a cleaner, greener economy and society; and protect us from the devastating consequences of climate change.
For the electricity sector, the plan sets a target to increasing the share of electricity demand generated from renewable sources to up to 80%. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help deliver on this ambition. The first projects from RESS 1 started commercial operation by the end of 2021. I recently announced the provisional results of the second RESS auction (RESS 2). 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). A roadmap of future auctions which sets out the indicative timelines and volumes for onshore and offshore auctions over the coming decade was published in December 2021.
In order to facilitate this level of renewable generation, a number of complementary targets have been set across the sector including greater interconnection, reinforced grid infrastructure, increased demand side response and renewable gas delivery. The plan also identifies that Ireland needs to deliver circa 2 GW of new flexible gas-fired power stations in support of a high variable renewable electricity system.
