Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to support sustainable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35462/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The promotion of the sustainable generation and use of energy is being supported in a variety of ways in the electricity, transport and heat sectors, as well as through the promotion of energy efficiency across the economy. Renewable electricity generation is currently supported through the Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff programme (REFIT) which has been in operation since 2006. There are now around 1,400 megawatts of renewable powered capacity generating electricity. These plants contributed 12.2% of all electricity consumed in 2008. The amount of renewable-powered plant connected and accessing the electricity grid is increasing steadily from year to year.

Under European Directive 2001/77/EC, Ireland was set a target of 13.2% for renewable electricity to be achieved by 2010. Ireland is on track to exceed this target and will meet a higher national target of 15% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The Government has set targets to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to electricity consumed from 15% in 2010 to 40% by 2020. The 40% electricity target is consistent with the new EU target addressed to Ireland in Directive 2009/28/EC to increase the contribution from renewable sources to 16% of all energy consumed (to include electricity, transport and heating) by 2020.

The Government has also set a target to develop 500 MW of ocean powered electricity by 2020. The development of ocean energy technologies is still at early deployment stage, with the first full scale prototypes just beginning to emerge globally. I am committed to the realisation of the full potential of Ireland's ocean energy, and the Ocean Energy Development Unit of Sustainable Energy Ireland, is leading the implementation of the Ocean Energy Programme that encompasses the construction of a grid connected test site for these prototypes, and a Prototype Development Fund. I welcome the announcement by Sustainable Energy Ireland that €4.3millon is being provided to 10 Irish companies developing ocean and tidal energy devices under this fund.

The Government's target for Renewable Heating is 12%. There are a number of schemes in place to support this – including the Greener Homes Scheme (which supports domestic renewable heating), the Renewable Heat Deployment Programme, which is aimed at institutional, industrial and retail users of heat, and the Combined Heat and Power Programme. Transport is one of the fastest growing sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, and biofuels offer one potential means to counter rising emissions levels in the sector. The Government is committed to the sustainable development of an Irish biofuels market in line with overall EU biofuel policy developments. The National Biofuel Obligation, which will come into effect in mid July 2010, will provide the market with long term stability, while also integrating the EU Sustainability Criteria, once they are available.

As a result of the Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes introduced in 2005 and 2006 the market penetration rate for biofuels as a percentage of road transport fuels has increased from zero to just under 2% in 2008. Electric Vehicles offer another means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time tackling Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels. The Government target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, will equate to 225,000 cars on Irish roads.

Energy efficiency is generally acknowledged to be the cheapest way to meet our energy policy goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency is at the heart of European and domestic economic recovery programmes. The Government has committed to achieving 20% energy savings across the economy by 2020. As part of this energy efficiency drive, the Government has also committed to achieving a 33% energy saving across the Public Sector by 2020. I launched the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) in May 2009. The Action Plan sets out 90 actions that the Government are either already taking or will take in the period to 2020 to achieve the energy efficiency targets whilst reducing our CO2 emissions by approximately 5.7 million tonnes. The savings identified in the Action Plan represent approximately €1.6 billion in avoided energy costs for the economy in 2020.