Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason there is no retrospective payments of grants for micro-wind turbines; his views on whether this is unfair on persons who have recently invested in this initiative prior to the introduction of this grant scheme; the reason he is incentivising the erection of additional micro-wind turbines for research purposes and excluding the research possibilities from the existing turbines; the estimated cost of this grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14896/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The micro scale generation programme, recently launched by Sustainable Energy Ireland, is assessing technical, financial and regulatory issues surrounding the deployment of small and micro generation technologies. The programme includes the future monitoring of suppliers and installers in supplying, constructing and commissioning new projects. It is not practical therefore to include projects commenced prior to the programme. It is expected the programme will support the construction of 50 projects, approximately, in a variety of technologies in diverse geographic regions from a budget of up to €2 million.

Individuals can also avail of payment for electricity exported to the grid by micro-generators at a rate of up to 19 cent per Kilowatt hour. Individuals who have already installed micro generation can also avail of this tariff once they have an approved ESB meter fitted. The meter will be fitted free of charge by ESB Networks.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding offshore wind projects which are currently outside the gate three process; his views on whether offshore wind projects with a potential of 1GW would make a significant impact on the 2020 target; the criteria for inclusion in the consultation process for grid application; his position on offshore wind projects; the number of applications awaiting grid connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14906/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Applications for grid connections are made to ESB Networks and/or Eirgrid in the first instance. Data on grid connections has been published by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) as part of its consultation process on grid connections and additional information is published from time to time by Eirgrid.

CER and Eirgrid have calculated that 5800 megawatts (MWs) of renewable capacity is required to achieve the 40% target in 2020. The latest figures from Eirgrid and CER show that there are currently over 1,300 MW of renewable capacity already connected to the system with a further 1,500 MW with a signed connection agreement or in the final stages of agreeing one. The recent CER decision on the 'Gate 3' Round provides for connection offers for 3,900 MWs of additional renewable capacity. This Gate 3 process includes some 785MW of offshore wind capacity. Figures from CER indicate that there are in the region of 7,000 MW of further applications. There is currently no breakdown of the technologies in this latter group available.

A contribution of 1000 MWs in any one renewable technology, which the onshore wind category has already surpassed, is a significant contribution to the overall capacity requirement. Ongoing discussion with representatives of the offshore wind sector indicates that the sector has the potential to make an increasing contribution to targets from around 2012 onwards.