Written answers

Tuesday, 21 November 2006

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Alternative Energy Projects

9:00 am

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on Gate Two of the renewable generation offers and commitments; if he will provide an evaluation of Ireland's renewable energy targets and achievements when Gate Two joins the generation mix; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38827/06]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has a target to treble the contribution from renewable energy sources in electricity production from 5% approximately to 15% by 2010. The target approximates to 1650 megawatts of generating plant. We have also proposed a target of 30% by 2020 in the Green Paper on Energy Policy.

There is currently 940MW of renewable powered electricity capacity connected. This consists of approximately 670MWs of wind powered plant, 236MW of hydro powered plant with the balance (c. 34MWs) made up of different biomass technologies. The additional new capacity required to achieve the target will be delivered by projects already selected under the AER VI competition and the new Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) programme.

Future targets across all renewable technologies, beyond the current programme, will be set in the context of the White Paper on Energy Policy. The processing of Gate 2 applications for grid connections is a matter for the appropriate grid operator and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). I have no statutory function in that process.

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