Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on proposals on a European Supergrid; the implications this would have here; the work he has done on this matter at a European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3411/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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At the Energy Council in Brussels on 7 December, I signed the political declaration on the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative. This important initiative will spearhead the development of an offshore wind energy grid, or 'supergrid', in the North and North West Seas.

The North Seas Initiative involves Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK in recognition that the major part of offshore wind energy development in Europe will be focussed on the North and North West seas including the Irish Sea and the Western Seaboard. The development of offshore wind energy infrastructure in North West Europe will deliver enhanced security of supply, greater competition and a more integrated European energy Market, as well as critically underpinning Europe's climate change and renewable energy targets.

Ireland is recognised as having very significant potential for the development of offshore renewable energy including the prospect of becoming an exporter of electricity to Europe. It is therefore essential that Ireland is at the heart of all European renewable energy developments.

The North Seas Initiative is a welcome step forward in delivering on the European vision and ambition in renewable energy policy. The cost of developing the electricity infrastructure and technical, market, regulatory and community acceptance issues are shared challenges for all the countries concerned.

A shared vision on offshore grid development for North West Europe is essential in order to deliver the best and most sustainable solutions. The initiative will also work to achieve compatible political and regulatory regimes for long term offshore infrastructure development in the region.

The North Seas Initiative will take into account the work being done under existing initiatives. This explicitly includes the Irish-Scottish Links on Energy Study (The ISLES project). This is a joint project between Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland and is supported by the EU INTERREG programme. The project is examining the feasibility of the construction of an offshore electricity transmission network linking potential offshore sites for the generation of renewable energy in the coastal waters of Ireland, Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

There are other fora in the EU which are addressing the various challenges inherent in developing offshore wind including the Adamowitsch Group and the European Transmission System Operators Group. Ireland actively participates in both of these groups. We will also be working more directly with the UK Government under the work programme of the British Irish Council on the development of our common grid infrastructure.

I also intend setting out our own offshore and grid development plans within the renewable energy action plan which is due to be presented to the EU Commission this summer.