Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. He must accept that at present we have 1 GW of solar power and the target is to have 8 GW by 2030. The Minister said that building of 2 GW will commence over the next 12 months but 8 GW is a substantial target to try to reach in what is really a five-and-a-half-year time period. Is the Minister satisfied, from the submissions he has received and from the planning applications going to local authorities, that over the next two or three years we will see it increased by even 4 GW? The Minister referred to 2 GW but it would really need to increase by 4 GW over the coming three to four years. We have set targets of 80% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2030. Part of this will be through solar energy. If we do not reach the solar energy target we will not reach the 80% target. What efforts is the Department making to ensure we have a sufficient number of applications and that the building work can proceed for the delivery of solar panels?

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