Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: 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 getting grid connection without unreasonable delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3342/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has statutory responsibility for grid connection offers and for oversight of EirGrid's grid connection process including the Gate process for renewable energy.

There is currently over 1,500 megawatts (MWS) of renewable generation capacity connected to the electricity grid. Wind powered technology is the dominant renewable technology. Over 100 individual windfarms have been connected with a combined capacity of 1,260 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 very steadily from year to year. Renewable generation contributed 11.9% of all electricity consumed in 2008 compared to just 4.4% in 2003. Ireland is on schedule to meet the 15% target for electricity from renewable sources for this year.

In addition to projects already built and connected, a further 1400 MWs of capacity have already signed grid connection offers and 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 be built and connected to the grid over the next two or three year period.

The CER and EirGrid have calculated that around 5,800 megawatts (MWs) of renewable capacity will be required in total to deliver the 40% target in 2020.

The CER decision on the 'Gate 3' round provides for connection offers for an additional 4,000 MW of renewable electricity capacity. Approximately 90% of these offers are wind powered capacity including around 800 MW of offshore wind. The Gate 3 decisions, combined with existing renewable energy capacity and projects currently being built and connected, point to the 40% target being met by 2020.

The projects in Gate 3 were selected by the CER on a "first come first served" criterion. Grid connection offers for projects within the Gate 3 process began to issue last month and will continue to be issued on a phased basis until mid 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 EirGrid and the renewable industry associations. The objective is to ensure the connection offer process is completed quickly, transparently and effectively.

The Gate 3 process was extensively consulted on by the CER. Through public consultation and dedicated industry workshops, all industry stakeholders were given the opportunity of responding in advance to the proposed connection process.

In the event of any non take-up of the Gate 3 offers, the CER would intend to add replacement projects currently in the queue, to ensure delivery of the 2020 target.

A strategic framework to deliver on the potential for exporting renewable electricity from Ireland is also a key priority. This will take account of grid technology developments, power flow management techniques, and progressive interconnection with the UK, and potentially Europe. In that context Ireland's membership of the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative and involvement in other EU offshore wind fora will ensure that Ireland is at the forefront of European developments in offshore renewable energy.