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

Question 607: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the outcome of the EU climate change committee meeting for an agreement on new entrants reserve 300 funding on 2 February 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6706/10]

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

The New Entrant Reserve (NER) 300 is a budget of 300 million EU emission unit allowances (EUAs) allocated in December 2008 to finance innovative demonstration projects in the fields of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and Renewable Energy. As the Deputy will be aware, the purpose of the meeting on the 2nd of February was to decide on the Draft Commission Decision, which included eligibility criteria that will be used to select projects under the NER 300 programme. My officials have been fully engaged with this process since its inception, and are actively involved in trying to bring this process to a successful conclusion.

The Climate Change Committee voted in favour of the revised Commission Decision on the 2nd of February, subject to a number of amendments. These amendments include the inclusion of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) included under 'Ocean' subcategory, the inclusion of the words 'smart grids' inserted in the 'Distributable Renewable Management' subcategory, along with the provision that the decision can be amended with a view to ensuring geographical and technical balance in the second round of projects seeking funding. It is expected that the process will now move to the invitation for projects stage.