Ms Julie O'Neill:

The interesting thing regarding solar energy is that the contribution it makes currently is very modest. We must watch how the technology evolves as I believe there will be greater opportunities for solar energy. Often there is a tipping point in regard to the cost of various technologies and when we reach that tipping point it becomes more possible to consider their contribution. I do not want to get into setting the targets beyond 2020, towards 2050, because that is something to be considered in the context of the White Paper. The targets will also be the subject of international negotiations. However, I believe the overarching goal should be to move towards a largely carbon neutral energy system by 2050 and that we must aim for that.

Wind energy is an important part of what we do currently and, with respect to electricity, wind will remain important for the foreseeable future. I do not see it as a case of putting all our eggs into one basket. There is no magic bullet in this regard and we must maintain an open mind. As chair of SEAI, I will maintain an open mind on any ideas put forward. However, we must consider what gives us the most efficient return on investment at this time in terms of renewable energy and whether that is the most efficient way towards meeting our targets. In the case of electricity, this certainly appears to be wind, while on the heat side it appears to be biomass. We must look at how we can grow more biomass crops and at how they can be used and the best way of doing that. We also need to be open towards other technologies.

As we take the time horizon out beyond 2020, we would hope the kind of experimental and innovative work we are doing around wave energy and the like will begin to bear fruit because we have a wonderful ocean resource. However, I doubt we can rely on that happening quickly, overnight or within a short timeframe. We need to plan well ahead for that. We must be always alive to what I would call the "game changers" in technology that might offer us possibilities in the future.