Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify the contribution that wind will make to the electricity grid by the year 2020; and if he has policy in place to deal with the many developers who will continue to spend money on developing wind farms that have no prospect of connection to the grid due to the limitations outlined in his grid capacity study. [14996/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Energy White Paper, 2006 sets out targets for electricity generated from alternative and renewable energy sources in Ireland of 15% of electricity consumed in 2010 and 33% in 2020. The dominant technology providing the required new capacity will be wind, both onshore and offshore. It is our objective also to ensure that additional capacity will be provided by biomass, small hydro and ocean energy as we work to realise the full potential of all our renewable resources.

The All-Island Grid Study published this January concluded that it is technically feasible to generate 42% of electricity on the island of Ireland from renewable energy sources by 2020. The study shows that we have the potential to do more than reach the target of 33% renewables. That target was always going to set the base rather than the limit of our ambitions and the government is committed to delivering the highest percentage of renewables possible by 2020. This will require major investment in our electricity transmission network, and significant investment from the renewables sector itself. There are other complex technical and policy challenges inherent in achieving this ambitious level of integration of renewable energy into the grid. The Grid Development Strategy 2025 which is being finalised by EirGrid will be critical in this regard.

I have announced a range of initiatives since the publication of the Grid Study to further support delivery of our renewable energy targets including enhancements to the REFIT programme. We are putting in place the necessary strategies to deliver on our national and EU targets as well as looking beyond those in terms of ambition. I have re-established the Renewable Energy Development Group as a high level forum to inform and underpin work to address the challenges and opportunities for the renewable energy sector. The group brings together the renewables industry, Departments, Agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a "Whole of Government" approach to the challenges. We will also be cooperating with Northern colleagues as we both work to achieve the development of renewable energy North and South.