Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 111: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the progress and matters under consideration of alternative energy services; the field research and feasibility studies that have been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33322/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Discussions are ongoing in relation to the allocations for Energy Research and Development including Renewable Energy Technologies, for 2007 as part of the Estimates process. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the state energy agency is engaged in research, technology development and innovation in sustainable use and sourcing of energy and energy efficiency.

The €27m "Greener Homes" domestic renewable heat grants programme, which was launched in March this year, is providing grants for householders for the purpose of installing renewable heating including wood biomass boilers and stoves, solar panels and heat pumps.

In the 26-week period, up to 25 September 2006, since the Greener Homes Scheme was launched, a total of 7,716 applications have been received for grant aid and of these 6,842 offers of grant aid have issued.

The new SEI Bioheat Boiler Deployment Programme provides grant support to assist the deployment of boiler s fuelled by wood chips and wood pellets and applied in large buildings/small industrial sites in Ireland. An indicative allocation of €22M was made for a Bioheat Boiler Deployment Programme to run in the 2006 to 2010 time frame.

The new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Deployment Programme provides grant support to assist the deployment of small-scale (up to 1MWe) fossil fired CHP and biomass CHP systems. The CHP units simultaneously generate heat and electricity in a single process on site. By combining the electricity generating and heat processes CHP saves around 25% of the energy that would have been required to produce electricity in a conventional power station and heat in separate heat only boilers, and is therefore a very efficient way of meeting heat and energy needs.