Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 806: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the requirements for power stations to be dual fuel; if there is a requirement for power stations to be able to burn alternative fuel sources; if all power stations meet required directions on dual fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14644/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Currently, on an annualised basis, 60% of Ireland's electricity is generated from gas. Overall electricity generation accounts for approximately 65% of our gas demand. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the independent body with statutory responsibility for monitoring and ensuring security of electricity and gas supply. Recognising the interdependencies between gas and electricity, the Commission undertook a consultation process on secondary fuelling in 2008. Resulting from this process, they published a Decision Paper outlining Secondary Fuel Obligations on Licensed Generation Capacity in Ireland on 12 January 2009.

Under these obligations gas powered generating plant is required to hold secondary fuel stocks (distillate oil) on site or in close proximity to generating plant with dedicated pump and pipeline between plant and storage tank. Fuel stocks must be in usable form and must be sufficient to ensure that baseload plants run for 5 days at 90% capacity and mid merit plants run for 3 days at 90% capacity. All gas powered generating plant is required to fuel switch within five hours of a gas emergency being declared by the National Gas Emergency Manager. Monitoring and testing of this obligation is undertaken by EirGrid, the Transmission System Operator, on behalf of the Commission. I am advised by the CER that all gas fired power stations have been verified as being in compliance with these requirements.

Oil and coal fired generating plant is not required to hold stocks of secondary fuel but is required to hold stocks of primary fuel relative to their size and number of running days. There is no requirement on peat or renewable generation to hold secondary fuel stocks.