Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1427: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide highly flexible modern generation plants as backup for the increasing share of Ireland's electricity needs that will be accounted for by intermittent renewable sources such as wind and wave as Ireland moves towards its 2020 target of 33% renewable energy; the emission levels such plants are expected to have; and the extent to which this will affect Ireland's ability to reach the target. [36107/07]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1463: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in ensuring the provision of 240MW of mid-merit/flexible generating plant by autumn 2008, as stated in the Energy White Paper of March 2007. [2014/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1427 and 1463 together.

It is a matter for market players to bring forward proposals for new dispatchable plants in the competitive electricity generation market. Under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has statutory responsibility for the issue of licences to generate electricity and authorisations to construct power generation plants. EirGrid is responsible for the provision of grid connection offers. In that context both the CER and EirGrid will continue to monitor and progress proposals by market players for the provision of mid merit flexible plant. I am firmly of the view that additional flexible plant is critically needed to support the growth of renewable energy and a balanced power generation portfolio.

I am advised by the CER that there is currently significant interest in developing mid-merit/flexible generating plant. I welcome this interest by market players. The CER published a direction to EirGrid in December 2007 to issue a connection offer for a proposed 98MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine plant at Purcellsinch in Co. Kilkenny. EirGrid has also received grid connection applications for another four 100MW flexible generating units in Tipperary, Mayo and Roscommon, which are currently under consideration. I fully expect and will encourage investors in new generation to take account of the need for increased plant flexibility and to deliver the least cost and most appropriate plant technology for new generation capacity.