Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 283: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if grant aid is available from his Department or from the EU to encourage farmers to introduce sustainable energy initiatives on their farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2757/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The development of sustainable energy initiatives in Ireland is first and foremost a matter for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who have overall responsibility for energy policy. The initiatives undertaken by my Department complement the measures introduced by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and are primarily to encourage farmers to produce feedstock for biofuel and biomass production, to support the production of wood energy and to support agri-energy research.

In line with our commitments in the National Bioenergy Action Plan, my Department introduced a National Energy Crop Premium worth €80 per hectare to improve the profitability of growing energy crops. We also introduced a Bioenergy Scheme to encourage farmers to grow willow and miscanthus for heat and electricity generation. We are aiding establishment with grants of €1,450 per hectare. To date the Scheme has aided the planting of some 1,800 hectares. I have provided sufficient funding in 2009 for a further 1,800 hectares. EU supports for energy crops are available in the form of the Single Farm Payment and the EU premium of €45 per hectare under the EU Energy Crops Scheme.

Over the past three years, my Department has greatly enhanced our support for research projects that relate to biofuels and energy crops. Under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme we have awarded grant assistance of over €6 million to 13 projects involving research into liquid biofuels, energy crop production, on-farm anaerobic digestion and second-generation biofuels. Projects supported under the Stimulus programme will complement the research work being done by Teagasc and others in this area. The production of wood energy can generate new market opportunities for farmers and local forest owners. My Department has allocated €1.1m under the Wood Biomass Harvesting Scheme to support developing enterprises in the wood chip supply sector.

As regards aid for on-farm projects, my Department is supporting the development of anaerobic digestion facilities by providing grant aid to farmers for pilot projects under the Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On Farm Waste Processing Facilities. Anaerobic Digestion is a proven technology that extracts energy in the form of biogas from organic waste. In 2007, ten projects were awarded grants under the Scheme. The maximum investment ceiling is €1 million per project and the applicable grant rate is 40%. The 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme provides for the continuation of a grant scheme for the development of such facilities.