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

The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive outlined targets for member states for renewable energy penetration. The directive set Ireland a binding target where at least 16% of our energy requirements should come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet our overall 16% requirement, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport from renewable sources. The directive also provided the option of co-operation mechanisms to enable a member state to contribute to another member state’s targets.

To date, wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. In 2012, 15.3% of Ireland's electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of quarter three this year, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was approximately 2,100 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Currently, approximately 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.

Expert advice has identified Ireland’s potential to produce renewable electricity significantly beyond the level required by the 2020 target, along with the capacity to meet that 2020 target from onshore renewable generation alone.

Ireland’s capability to achieve its national targets for renewable electricity from onshore renewable generation alone, with capacity to spare, means that there is potential for projects of scale onshore that are aimed at export markets. It also means that our offshore wind resource can be developed as an export opportunity.

It is in this context that the opportunity to harness Ireland’s onshore and offshore renewable energy resources for the export market, and realise their potential for investment, job creation and economic growth, has been identified and is being pursued with the UK Government under the memorandum of understanding on energy trading signed in January 2013.

See this speech in context