Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Development in the renewable energy sector in Ireland is underpinned by a clear policy framework. Under the renewable energy directive, Ireland is required to increase renewable energy from 3.1% in 2005 to 16% in 2020, with a minimum target of 10% in the transport sector. Energy is consumed across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. Our intention is to reach our overall target through 40% renewable electricity, 12% renewable heating and 10% renewable transport.

Under the directive, Ireland was required to set out in a national renewable energy action plan the trajectory towards meeting its legally binding target. The action plan and first progress report on the plan, which are available on my Department's website, show the sectoral and technology breakdown that we anticipate in the achievement of our target. By the end of 2011, we had reached 6.4% of overall energy consumption from renewable sources and the trajectory set out in the action plan assumes we will achieve the 16% target incrementally at approximately 1% per annum. It will be achieved primarily through the support of renewable electricity from wind, hydro and biomass by way of feed-in tariffs and mandating the use of bio-fuels through the bio-fuel obligation scheme. My Department's Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012 to 2020 sets out the key strategic goals for the various renewable energy sectors.

In terms of the 40% renewable electricity to be achieved by 2020, the ability to meet this target is largely determined by the grid connection offers to renewable generators. Supervision of the grid connection process is vested in the Commission for Energy Regulation. The commission's Gate 3 direction to system operators published in December 2008 set out the list of projects to receive grid connection offers. Gate 3 was designed to ensure the 40% target for renewable electricity by 2020 could be achieved. This was based on an assumption that 5,800 MW of renewable generation would be required. Gate 3 followed Gates 1 and 2 and provided for additional grid connection offers of up to almost 4,000 MW.

The recent conclusion of the single electricity market consultations on dispatch and scheduling affords the opportunity to move on with the wind farm developments we require. EirGrid is now in a position to commence issuing constraint reports in respect of Gate 3. This will allow developers to make decisions on their Gate 3 offers. Recent changes I announced in the REFIT 1 and REFIT 2 schemes will further facilitate this development.

As regards the structure, level and nature of targets, including those on renewable energy, the post-2020 approach has not yet been agreed. The European Commission last month published a consultation on its Green Paper, A 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy Policies, seeking views on a range of matters, including targets for designing an energy and climate framework for 2030.

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