Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the options for investors in offshore and onshore wind farm applications outside the gate three process; the position regarding the wind applications to the grid; the position regarding the gate three process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35518/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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There are currently in the region of 1,400 megawatts (MWS) of renewable generation plants connected to the electricity grid. Wind powered technology is the dominant renewable technology. Almost 100 individual windfarms have been connected with a combined capacity of around 1,100 MWs. 240 MWs of hydro-power are connected. The balance represents biomass plants mainly landfill gas. The contribution from renewable energy connected to the electricity grid is increasing steadily from year to year. Renewable generation contributed 12.2% of all electricity consumed in 2008 compared to just 4.4% in 2003.

The Government's target is to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to electricity consumed to 15% by 2010 and at least 40% by 2020. The national target fully reflects the EU renewable energy target set for Ireland under the Renewable Energy/Climate Change package. Delivery of additional new projects to meet or possibly even surpass these targets is under way. Currently, there is approximately a further 1400 MWs of capacity in additional projects, which have received connection offers and which have been accepted into the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) programme. These projects were part of the Gate 1 and Gate 2 processes, and will typically be built and connected to the grid over the next two or three year period. The projects being built this year and next year will ensure the 2010 target of 15%. Those built in following years will contribute to our 2020 target.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and EirGrid have calculated that around 5,800 megawatts (MWs) of renewable capacity will be required to deliver the 40% target in 2020. The CER decision on the 'Gate 3' round provides for connection offers for 4,000 MW of additional renewable electricity capacity. Approximately 90% of these offers are wind powered capacity including around 800 MW of offshore wind. The projects in Gate 3 were selected by the CER on a "first come first served" criterion. The 4,000 MW of capacity within the Gate 3 process are currently being assessed as part of the connection process. Connection offers are expected to issue between late 2009 and early 2011.

To ensure this process operates efficiently and to keep the industry stakeholders informed of the ongoing work, the CER has established a Gate 3 Liaison Group involving all stakeholders, including the renewable industry associations. The objective is to ensure the connection offer process is completed quickly and as effectively as possible. The Gate 3 process itself was extensively consulted on by the CER in the interests of transparency. With a full public consultation and dedicated industry workshops, all industry stakeholders were afforded the opportunity of responding to the proposed connection process well in advance of the decision being made. The decision by CER on Gate 3 is potentially capable of delivering the 40% national target for the contribution from renewable energy resources to electricity consumed by 2020.

In the event of any fallout from the Gate 3 offers a further process would be proposed by the CER to add replacement projects to ensure delivery of the national renewable electricity target for 2020. Further developments will also be influenced by grid technology developments, power flow management techniques, and progressive interconnection between Ireland, the UK and potentially Europe.