Seanad debates

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

2:00 am

Photo of Tony MulcahyTony Mulcahy (Fine Gael)

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

— commends the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for his work to date in the area of renewable energy, particularly wind and biomass;

— welcomes the planned publication of the Government's new energy policy framework in 2012;

— recognises the need to enhance and increase renewable energy in Ireland's overall energy mix and underlines the national commitment to deliver on Ireland's renewable energy target of 16% by 2020 under the legally binding targets in Directive 2009/28 EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources;

— notes that Ireland's binding target is to be achieved through 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heat sector;

— acknowledges that Ireland as an island nation is vulnerable to global energy shocks and price rises as we import nearly 90% of our energy which consists of mainly fossil fuels;

— highlights that Ireland has one of the best wind and ocean resources in the European Union;

— acknowledges that the European Union is committed to an integrated European energy market and that renewable energy will be a traded commodity in the years ahead under the renewable energy directive mechanisms;

— recognises that the co-operation mechanisms in the directive offer Ireland a renewable electricity export opportunity to other member states experiencing a shortfall in their renewable target, provided the economics of doing so make sense;

— urges that the necessary cost effective grid infrastructure across the country be completed as a matter of priority to enable the connection of renewable energy projects;

— calls on the Government to drive the green energy revolution forward, with a specific focus on creating the conditions conducive to the development of renewable energy enterprises supporting jobs and sustainable growth;

— calls on the Minister to continue his work within the British-Irish Council to progress with the UK an intergovernmental agreement on renewable energy trade between these islands to the economic benefit of Ireland;

— proposes that the Minister request EirGrid to undertake a techno-economic study of the impact of potential large-scale energy storage projects such as pumped hydro on the grid system;

— commends the work to date by the SEAI in evaluating the renewable energy resource nationwide, including the recent development of geographical information systems, GIS, for wind, bio-energy and geothermal energy;

— requests the Minister to ask the SEAI to finalise and implement the important methodology work under way to underpin the development by local authorities of their renewable energy strategies;

— recalls that meaningful employment can be created in the area of renewable energy across a range of skills and professions;

— endorses the need to construct, cost effectively and sustainably, the new North-South interconnecting line to further link the electricity systems North and South in the interests of security of supply, the all-island electricity market, renewable energy development and regional development;

— commends the construction by EirGrid to schedule and on budget of the first east-west interconnector between Ireland and the UK which will be commissioned later in the year;

— notes that EirGrid is investigating the development of a future interconnector as a strategic EU project between Ireland and France, in the context of the convergence of the French, UK and Irish electricity markets;

— notes that public acceptance is critical to the successful delivery of energy infrastructure and renewable energy projects and calls on the Government to set out its policy objectives in relation to the strategic necessity for Grid 25 and renewable energy development;

— proposes that the Minister consult the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government and the Commission for Energy Regulation on the scope for improved alignment in the future of the range of permissions and authorisations required for renewable energy projects;

— recognises the potential implications for oil prices and supplies for Ireland of the EU embargo on oil imports from Iran, which underlines Ireland's urgent need to diversify energy sources in the interests of security of supply;

— proposes that essential technical and economic analysis be undertaken by the Minister's Department, the SEAI, the CER and EirGrid into the costs and benefits of developing an onshore renewable energy export capability;

— proposes that the Minister consult the CER, EirGrid and ESB Networks, as well as all stakeholders, on the potential for the development of privately owned grid solutions;

— notes that large industrial bases such as the Shannon free zone have the potential to rebrand themselves as carbon free zones and that the potential for developing renewable heat solutions, including district heating schemes, in such locations be pursued;

— calls on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to review the criteria for individuals and entities lodging objections or submissions to planning applications or strategic planning applications, including renewable energy and energy infrastructure.

I welcome the Minister. As this is a very long motion, I hope Members will bear with me. Senator Maurice Cummins told us yesterday that it was to be the longest ever moved in the House.

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