Written answers
Wednesday, 12 October 2005
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Alternative Energy Projects
9:00 pm
Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his role in the introduction of co-firing of biomass material in existing peat power stations here; and the impediments to the immediate introduction of such an initiative. [27833/05]
Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Last April, I announced that I was changing the renewable energy support mechanism from competitive tendering to a fixed feed in tariff mechanism. In September, I announced the support prices for different technology bands including general biomass price support.
The new fixed price tariffs are: large wind energy, over 5 MW, 5.7 cent per KW hour; small wind energy, under 5 MW, 5.9 cent per KW hour; biomass, landfill gas, 7 cent per KW hour; and hydro and other biomass technologies, 7.2 cent per KW hour. It is a matter for the peat station owners to determine the commercial viability of co-firing with other materials based on commercial and environmental considerations. However, the availability of price support as outlined above provides an incentive for fuel switching to be considered.
The detailed draft terms and conditions of the proposed feed in support programme were posted on the Department's website, www.dcmnr.gov.ie, in draft form on 29 September and interested parties have until today to raise any queries or to furnish any observations on the proposals as published.
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