Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 4: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to amend the gate three system to facilitate commercially viable new wind farm proposals receiving grid connection without unreasonable delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35841/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Applications for grid connections are made to ESB Networks and/or EirGrid, in the first instance and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is responsible for oversight of the grid connection process. I have no statutory role in the Gate 3 process, which is established and actively under way. The Government has set targets to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to electricity consumed to 15% by 2010 and 40% by 2020. Steady progress has been made towards the 2010 target and with over 1,300 MW of renewable capacity now in place, renewable generation constituted 12.2% of all electricity consumed last year, up from just 4.4% in 2003.

The CER and EirGrid have calculated that 5,800 megawatts (MWs) of renewable capacity is required to achieve the 40% target in 2020. The latest figures from EirGrid and the CER show that there are in excess of 1,300 MW of renewable electricity capacity already connected to the system with a further 1,500 MW with signed connection agreements or in the final stages of agreeing one from the Gate 2 process. In December 2008 CER issued a decision on the 'Gate 3' round, which provides for connection offers for approximately 4,000 MW of additional renewable electricity capacity. The scale of the Gate 3 round was initially set at 3,000 MW of capacity by the CER but I am pleased to say that this was increased to around 4,000 MW of capacity to duly reflect the Government's increased renewable electricity 2020 target of 40%.

The Gate 3 process was extensively consulted on by the CER and all industry stakeholders were afforded the opportunity of responding to the proposed connection process. The projects for Gate 3 were selected by reference to the date applications were completed. In accordance with the principle of equity those projects longest in the queue have been dealt with first. The projects are currently being assessed as part of the connection offer process and the CER has established an industry liaison group, which includes members from all the renewable industry associations. The Group meets regularly and is kept up to date with all the relevant issues inherent in processing 4,000 MW of connection offers. Bearing in mind that the total electricity system in Ireland is around 7,800 MW of generation capacity, it is clear to see the scale and complexity of the connection challenge. The CER advises that connection offers are expected to start issuing around the end of this year and the process is expected to continue throughout 2010 and into early 2011.

The take up rate by developers in receipt of Gate 3 connection offers over the period will be a crucial determinant of the success of the process. The CER have confirmed that additional projects would be incorporated into Gate 3 in the event that existing projects do not materialise.