Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has instructed her Department and the semi-state bodies responsible to her Department to promote and facilitate the development of indigenous green energy projects in all practical circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4535/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the agencies under its remit are involved in various initiatives for the promotion and development of indigenous green energy projects. In 2007 a new wood-fired heating system was installed in the offices at Johnstown Castle, Wexford, as an alternative to fossil fuel. This provides all office and water heating. In relation to Animal By-Products (ABP), the policy of my Department is to encourage alternative commercially viable uses of such products in Ireland.

In June 2006, I introduced the Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities, which provided grant-aid for up to 10 projects throughout the State for the introduction or development of on-farm waste processing facilities such as anaerobic/aerobic digestion and fluidised bed combustion systems. The criteria for selection of projects included the potential of the proposed project for the creation of a renewable energy source. The total Exchequer commitment to the Scheme is €4 million, which is provided for in the National Development Plan 2000-2006. In that context, I am also pleased to note that my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has recently announced the availability of grants for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) driven Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Units; and an increase in the guaranteed Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) price for AD electricity to €120 per MWH.

A significant amount of meat and bone meal (MBM) is being used as a fuel in the cement industry. This has reduced the amount of coal that would otherwise be imported by that industry. I am also aware of proposals to use MBM in the generation of electricity. There is a growing interest in using biomass including MBM as a carbon neutral co-fuel in peat-burning electricity plants. Promoting the increased use of MBM would deliver financial benefits for the industries involved, reduce disposal costs and represent a significant bioenergy contribution from agriculture. In the recent 'National Bioenergy Action Plan' the Government has targeted 30% co-firing in peat stations by 2015.

My Department has had discussions with a number of investors regarding the planned establishment of biodiesel plants, which would use tallow as a feedstock, including a number of operators granted excise relief under the Biofuels Scheme II (which is administered by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources). Planning permission has been obtained and development work is well underway in some instances. Wood energy has a key role to play in achieving the Government targets for renewable energy as set out in the White Paper, 'Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland'.

My Department actively encourages the development of the wood-energy sector through a range of support measures. A capital grant scheme to support emerging enterprises in the wood chip supply sector was launched in 2007. The Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Grant Scheme grant aids the purchase of medium-scale wood chippers and self-contained chippers by providing up to 40% of the purchase price of this equipment. The specialized harvesting capacity created will have a significant impact in assisting developing enterprises in the wood chip supply sector while complementing the Reheat Scheme operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland. My Department has also supported a number of wood energy pilot projects, which aim to develop models of best practice for wood supply and to encourage increased use of wood fuel, primarily in the form of woodchip. Examples of the pilot projects being funded include the County Clare Wood Energy Project and the Forest Link project in Donegal.

Energy has been targeted as a key development area for the Coillte Group. Significant progress continues to be made with regard to advancing wind farm developments on Coillte's property and a comprehensive examination of Coillte's biomass energy potential has commenced. COFORD, the National Council for Forest Research and Development, which is wholly funded by my Department, in association with Teagasc, has been to the fore in promoting green energy projects through the Forest Energy Programmes. COFORD hosts and manages a website (www.woodenergy.ie) dedicated to providing factual information on using wood biomass as a carbon neutral, renewable energy source.

Teagasc actively promotes green energy on an ongoing basis through its Advisory service and has organized conferences, open days, workshops and other events to promote the uptake. They work closely with other organizations in this regard. For example, Teagasc, together with COFORD and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) organized a major Bioenergy Open Day in Oak Park in August 2007. Today, Tuesday 12th February, a Bioenergy conference organised by Teagasc, in association with the Irish Bioenergy Association, is taking place in Tullamore.

Teagasc has installed wood chip boilers in a number of its Advisory offices and a wood chip boiler provides heating for part of the Oak Park Research Centre. Teagasc will look at all options for greater energy efficiency and/or installation of alternative energy heating systems in all new buildings and in major refurbishments. Teagasc are also in the process of preparing a comprehensive plan for green energy projects throughout the organization and these projects will serve to meet their own requirements whilst also acting as demonstration projects for all interested parties. As part of this, they are currently conducting feasibility studies on the development of Biogas units in Grange and Moorepark and a wind energy unit in Ballyhaise College.

The Marine Institute is building up and enhancing research and technical support capability which assists device developers in wave energy. This support has been concentrated in the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre in University College Cork. The Institute works closely with Sustainable Energy Ireland and Enterprise Ireland in developing and implementing a national ocean energy strategy which contains measures to assist developers of commercial wave energy devices. The Marine Institute also provides a test site in Galway Bay for wave energy device developers. It is currently finalising plans for the establishment of an offshore grid connected test facility for full-scale wave energy devices.

Finally, Bord Iascaigh Mhara is working with industry to develop more environmentally friendly fishing gear and more fuel-efficient engines for fishing boats. This will continue to be a priority taking into account the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the need to reduce the operating costs of fishing vessels.