Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred options for the future development of the electricity industry; the extent of any targets he has in mind for the use of wind, gas or alternative generation sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3653/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred options for the future development of the electricity industry; the extent of any targets he has in mind for the use of wind, gas or alternative generation sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3974/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 308 together.

I refer the Deputy to my response to the earlier questions today in regard to my proposal to undertake a comprehensive review of the electricity sector.

In addition, the promotion of renewable energy technologies in electricity production, the harnessing of energy from biomass products and the increased use of combined heat and power technology are key priorities of this Government and also of the European Union. The renewables directive, directive 2001/77/EC, addresses an obligation to Ireland to deliver a programme capable of increasing the portion of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total consumption by 2010.

Existing hydro facilities together with the current AER support programme and activity in the liberalised green market are capable of delivering most of the target in the directive. As the amount of wind energy, in particular, connected to or with binding connection offers increases, further penetration will require co-operation and co-ordination between my Department, Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, the market regulator, CER, the electricity networks operators and developers. All these key players and more have participated in the work of the renewable energy development group which was established on 6 May last and which will report shortly. This report will, at a minimum, propose actions to ensure Ireland reaches its renewable energy target of 13.2% of gross electricity consumption by 2010 as set out in the directive.

In December 2003 my Department, in association with SEI, set up a bioenergy strategy group, BSG, to consider the policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the penetration of biomass energy in Ireland. Membership of the BSG comprised representatives of various Departments as well as State agencies in the agriculture and energy sectors and industry representatives. In March 2004, my Department, in association with SEI, established a CHP policy group to consider the most suitable and appropriate environments in which CHP can usefully be implemented in Ireland so as to maximise energy efficiency. Both the bioenergy strategy group and the CHP policy group are inputting into the renewable energy development group to ensure a comprehensive renewable energy policy is in place.

I am satisfied, therefore, that we have in place the necessary incremental steps to ensure increased penetration by renewable and alternative energy technologies in the energy markets. My objective is to put in place support regimes which will ensure orderly development and give reasonable return to project developers while also taking account of the interests of electricity consumers and consideration of national competitiveness.