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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Mr. Tom Donnellan: Horticultural peat will be key to Bord na Móna decarbonising. It is probably the last piece of the equation. In the next 18 months we will reduce our horticultural peat sales by 50% as we transition to non-peat based horticultural products. We already have large contracts signed with some of our big customers. This is all part of the journey. Bord na Móna is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am conscious of the Deputy's time. Are his questions about peat briquettes and moss peat?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...Goodwin: On the energy mix, we have been assured by EirGrid that the closure of the plants will not impact on the stability of the grid and that it can be operated without them. The removal of peat from the energy mix will reduce it, but the use of peat in electricity generation was coming to an end anyway in light of climate change.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Mr. Tom Donnellan: We have approximately 1,600 employees, of whom 400 are seasonal and half are in non-peat related businesses, so they are currently not affected by anything to do with peat. Approximately 400 are affected by the closure of the two power stations. We are redeploying 210 of those to rehabilitation and some to other new businesses. We have opened a voluntary redundancy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...given time. Most of that is indigenous, so a lot of that is material that is drying. We do not put it into the power station until it has a certain moisture level. We have different levels of peat inventories by bog and region. For example, for the Edenderry power plant we have about 18 months of peat in front of it, it is the same for Derrinlough, and for horticulture we have about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Eamon Ryan: ...we should be honest with people. By the middle of the next decade we will face fines of several hundred million euro a year as a result of changes in legislation with regard to how we account for peat. The likelihood of any form of horticultural peat extraction continuing by the middle of the next decade is close to zero. We should be honest with workers and communities in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...I thank the Chairman for the invitation to appear before the committee this afternoon to share the ESB's perspectives on the just transition. Specifically, we will cover the ESB's generation from peat in the midlands and our recent decisions, the just transition and the ESB's ongoing commitment to the midlands region. The ESB has been involved in the generation of electricity from peat...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...climate action solution for Ireland and a positive outcome for our employees. Last year, we briefed the committee on our brown to green strategy, which gradually repositions our company away from peat towards renewables, recycling and other low-carbon businesses. At the time, I made clear this transition was dependent on the successful conclusion of the ESB's plan to co-fire its two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Mr. Willie Noone: The Deputy is correct. In 2016, the group of unions in Bord na Móna agreed a plan, which accepted that peat production would be ceased as part of a phased process. It was agreed that processes and practices would be put in place during the transition to take account of each person's age and location and the alternative jobs that might be available. None of that came...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Eamon Ryan: Is Mr. Carroll's Department involved in the consultation process on the ending of horticultural peat extraction?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Mr. Brian Carroll: The closing of the peat plants, on an economy-wide basis, will reduce our emissions. The estimate is that 1.25 million tonnes of carbon will be saved each year. Emissions will reduce by 9 million tonnes cumulatively up to 2027.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Mr. Brian Carroll: We engage with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht generally in respect of the peatlands strategy. Peat harvesting specifically for horticultural use would be, in the first instance, a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Brian Stanley: ...for Bord na Móna. On the Edenderry plant and the PSO levy, at the moment, I understand that there is a PSO subsidy for 30% biomass. Does that need to be changed? What type of stocks in terms of peat on the bogs are on hand? Does the 30% need to increase?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...left with the difficulty that there are no fuels that are suitable to be burned in a plant of this configuration. It is unlikely we would get planning for any configuration that requires biomass or peat. The plant is unsuitable for any other type of fuel. It is a solid fuel burning plant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...announced the allocations. The Minister signalled, in response to a parliamentary question, that he is open to a submission as to how the funds might assist workers affected by the ending of peat harvesting for power generation. In terms of the practical details, we will have to work out how that will be done in the coming weeks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

...we have done much work on that. Up to now, we have not found a solution that will work. It is not something we have given up on and we will continue to work on that. The challenge is that peat is a very economical source of fuel whereas alternatives would be much more expensive. The question then is whether they could be marketed and a return made on them. We have done much work on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Eamon Ryan: ...into the fund. How exactly will that work? The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, led by the Minister, Deputy Madigan, is holding a consultation on the continuation or otherwise of peat extraction for horticulture. What is the involvement of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in that regard? Will it be involved in the consultation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Dr. John MacNamara: On rewetting and the area of the bogs, a total of 55,000 ha is probably involved in peat extraction for power stations, historically at least. It is approximately 60% of the Bord na Móna land bank. On the carbon savings that would be achieved by the rewetting, it is not a simple answer. A variety of land banks and peatlands are at different stages. Some have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Brian Stanley: ...that went a number of years ago. The change coming in 2024 under EU regulations and the carbon tax may have an impact on Derrinlough. Has Bord na Móna looked at the potential for mixing other raw material with peat? Could a briquette made from an alternative to peat be produced at the plant? With regard to the just transition, the unions were before the committee earlier. In the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

.... Our focus is first on finishing out the operation towards the end of 2020. We want to concentrate on our people in the stations and to make sure they get a just transition as we move away from peat. These options will then come back to the table for consideration in future. We have big ambitions to lead the transition to a low-carbon future in Ireland across transport, heating, and...