Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 October 2022
23. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail engagement with Government colleagues regarding renewable sources of energy for businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPutin’s war on Ukraine has highlighted the vulnerability of becoming too reliant on finite resources controlled by other states.
While weaning ourselves off coal, oil and gas is a global challenge, it also presents incredible opportunities for Ireland, specifically electricity generated by offshore wind, backed up by battery storage and interconnection, and of course, green hydrogen. The Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce is currently looking at those opportunities for the Mid-West.
We will help businesses reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and invest in energy efficiency in the coming years through government grants and loans.
For example, the Green Transition Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, is targeted at companies of different sizes and at all stages of their zero-carbon journey. It gives businesses funding to come up with a tailored plan to identify how they can save energy and remove reliance on fossil fuels. The Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund also provides capital funding for transformative decarbonisation investment in our manufacturing sectors, which will be amongst the businesses facing highest energy costs.
The electrification of industrial heat requirements, in conjunction with an increase in renewable generation, will allow businesses achieve a large reduction in emissions. We also believe that decarbonised gas such as biogas or biomethane, alongside hydrogen in the future, can enable those businesses with very high temperature need in their manufacturing processes to achieve emission reductions where electrification is not an immediate viable solution.
My department is engaged in a wide range of initiatives and working groups across Government and industry which focus on renewable energy deployment. For instance, we are part of the Offshore Energy Delivery Taskforce, chaired by Minister Ryan, which will make significant progress in accelerating the delivery of offshore wind, and is crucial to our future energy security of supply. This group will also help to ensure that Offshore Wind can secure long term economic and business opportunities.
