Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Other Questions

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

3:55 pm

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources whether Ireland is on target to meet binding European Union 2020 renewable targets; to provide details of the fines that will be realised if not achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21628/16]

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister indicate whether Ireland is on target to meet binding European Union 2020 renewable targets? What fines will accrue if this is not realised? Does the Minister agree that this is a major challenge facing the people?

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I think this is the first question I have taken from a constituency colleague. Deputy Murphy asked whether it is major challenge. Yes, it is. It is not only a major challenge globally but locally in our constituency as well. We saw the devastating impact last December of the flooding. We have had ongoing flooding in turloughs since then. We have had issues of flash flooding throughout our constituency as well. This is an issue for all of us.

The 2009 EU renewable energy directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand by renewable sources, 12% renewables in the heating sector and 10% in transport. The Government has adopted a range of support measures designed to meet our binding targets. Although good progress towards the target has been made to date, meeting the 16% target remains challenging. Provisional data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland indicates we had reached 9.2% of the overall 16% target at the end of 2015.

In the electricity sector the primary support mechanisms introduced for renewable electricity are the alternative energy requirement schemes and the renewable energy feed-in-tariff schemes. These schemes have proved successful at incentivising the development of the renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to meet our 40% renewable electricity target. Provisional figures show that in 2015 some 25.3% of electricity demand was met by renewable sources.

In the heating sector my Department is working on the introduction of a new renewable heat incentive to support the deployment of renewable energy in the sector. The primary aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in heating and to help reach our 12% target by 2020. In 2015 it is estimated that 6.8% of heat was derived from renewable sources.

In the transport sector Ireland aims to meet our renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles making a small contribution as well.

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I know him well as a constituency colleague and I know that he is probably one of the most clued-in individuals in the House on this issue. He knows how challenging it is.

What concerns me is that the Irish nation as a whole does not realise the challenge we are facing. The SEAI has estimated that the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for each percentage point Ireland falls short of the overall 16% renewable energy target. In other words, financially it would be a disaster for this nation if we failed to meet the targets. We have to try to explain to people that we have to change and that fossil fuels are going to be a major problem in future. We are going to have to change attitudes. The financial challenges that will arise if we do not reach the targets are extraordinary.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Thank you, Deputy. Unfortunately, time is up.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I wish to make a brief point. Deputy Murphy is right. There is an extraordinary challenge here. We have to take carbon out of our economy in the next 400 months. At EU level we are currently negotiating the targets for the next 160 months up to 2030. That means Deputy Murphy and myself must work together with the communities in our constituencies and in the adjoining counties of Longford, Westmeath and Offaly to provide alternatives to peat-fired electricity generation.

I believe biomass is the solution to that by maintaining jobs within Bord na Móna as well as providing additional cash income to many local small farmers on marginal holdings.

Written Answers follow Adjournment.