Written answers

Tuesday, 2 December 2008

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Alternative Energy Projects

9:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount and percentage of wind power with access to the national grid; the number of applications awaiting access to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43632/08]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of wind farms currently contributing to the national electricity grid; the number of such farms in respect of which planning permission has been granted but not admitted or cleared for admission to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43999/08]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of electricity currently provided through wind energy; his preferred options for future development in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44000/08]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which alternative energy currently contributes to the national electricity grid; the various components in this contribution; when it is expected to reduce dependency on imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44001/08]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 385 to 387, inclusive, together.

In 2007, the latest year for which published dated is available, electricity from renewable energy resources contributed 9.4% of electricity consumed. The contribution by resource was 6.7% wind, 2.2% hydro and 0.5% biomass. These technologies harness indigenous energy sources thereby reducing our dependency on imports.

The dominant renewable energy technology is now wind-powered. Eirgrid calculates that there are 97 wind-farms currently connected to the electricity grid with a combined installed capacity of 1002 megawatts and a further 490 projects with a combined installed capacity of 11500 megawatts in different stages of the connection application process. Any disputes about connection offers, including access to offers, are within the statutory authority of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER has recently published a decision on access to connection offers for at least 3,900 megawatts of capacity.

The projects awaiting connection offers are at different stages within the planning application process. Planning applications are submitted to the local Planning Authority in the first instance. There is no central register of such applications or their status. It Is not possible, therefore, to quantify the number of projects in any particular phase within the planning application process. However every compliant project which has been submitted to the REFIT support programme, with both planning permission and a connection offer, has been offered support.

The Government targets are to increase the contribution by renewable energy technologies to electricity consumed to 15% at least, by 2010 and 40% by 2020. Wind-powered plants will continue to be the dominant technology to 2010 and will be a substantial contributor to the 2020 target. It is expected that current support and research into other alternative technologies will also see technologies harnessing biomass and ocean-power play an increasing role in delivering the 2020 target.

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