Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the energy related targets in the Programme for Government 2007; the current position in relation to achieving each target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10129/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Under EU Directive 2001/77/EC, Ireland has a target of 13.2% for renewable electricity to be achieved by 2010. Ireland is on track to exceed this target and will meet the higher Government Programme target of 15% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

Between 2000 and 2007 renewable energy used for heat (RES-H) grew from 2.4 % to 3.7% before falling back slightly in 2008 to 3.6%. In absolute terms, biofuels in transport increased from 1 ktoe in 2005 (0.03% of road and rail transport [RES-T]) to 56 ktoe in 2008 (1.2%).

Under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, Ireland's target is for 16% of all energy (to include electricity, heating and transport) to be from renewable sources by 2020. The Government's targets of 40% of electricity, 12% of heating/cooling and 10% of transport to be sourced from renewable sources by 2020 are commensurate with Ireland's EU target.

In December 2008, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) issued a decision, which requires EirGrid and ESB Networks to provide connection offers for an additional 3,900 MWs of new renewable capacity to ensure the 2020 target can be achieved. This additional level of capacity, taken together with the capacity already built and the capacity that already has connection offers, is capable of meeting our 40% 2020 electricity target, which EirGrid and the CER equate to an overall capacity of 5,800 MW of renewable capacity.

The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2009 sets out the actions under way and planned, which will deliver on the Government Programme targets of 20% energy savings across the economy and 33% in the public sector by 2020.

The Ocean Energy Strategy is under way in support of delivering on the targets for ocean energy in the Government Programme.