Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1176: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in ensuring that one third of electricity consumed here comes from renewable resources by 2020. [19968/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government has set targets of 15% of gross electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2010 rising to 33% by 2020 which exceeds the targets set out in the EU Renewable Directive.

The Government has already introduced a range of measures to incentivise the development and deployment of renewable sources of energy. These include the Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) Scheme, the mineral oil tax exemption scheme, the Greener Homes Bioheat and CHP Support Programmes, and support for RTDI in renewable technology together with funding for a range of work by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

At least €270 million will be invested under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 through Sustainable Energy Programmes and Schemes overseen by SEI, as part of investments and support measures of over €670 million in renewable technologies. We are also supporting research projects to develop the use of agriculture products in the biofuels sector as well as energy crops and wood energy. Strategic planning and investment in electricity infrastructure has, as a key priority, the accommodation of renewable energy growth. EirGrid's Grid Development Strategy 2007-2025 will fully reflect this priority. The Strategy will also be informed by the All-Island Grid Study, which is currently being finalised.

A target of 15% approximates to 1650MW. Currently Ireland has over 1000MW of renewable capacity connected. This consists of approximately 793MW of wind powered plant, approximately 234MW of hydro powered plant with the balance (circa 34MW) made up of different biomass technologies. The additional new capacity required to achieve the target will be delivered by projects already selected under the previous AER V and AER VI competitions and the REFIT programme. The longer term prospects for renewable energy are excellent as is exemplified by the fact that currently there is over 3,500MW of renewable generation in the grid connection application process, the vast bulk of which is wind generation.