Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for streamlining the planning and licensing of renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28443/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Connections to the electricity grid are a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and EirGrid and ESB Networks in the first instance. It is estimated that 4630MW of renewable generation is required, based on current economic growth assumptions and energy demand projections, to ensure 40% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020 and to meet Ireland's legally binding renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

At the end of June 2011, there was 1459MW of wind connected to the grid in addition to 238MW of hydro generation and 30MW of other renewable generation. A further 1000MW of new renewable generation from Gate 1 and Gate 2 have accepted grid connection offers and are awaiting grid connection. To date there have been 3 "Gates" providing grid connection to new renewable generation. Under Gate 1 and Gate 2, 1755MW of connection offers were made and accepted. Under Gate 3, 3900MW of offers issued to renewable generators.

EirGrid's GRID25 strategy sets out the high level plan for delivering upgraded electricity transmission network to 2025. EirGrid is working to enhance the national network capacity between now and 2025 by reinforcing existing lines, deploying new grid technology and building new transmission lines. All Gate 3 grid offers have now issued. A Gate 3 Liaison Group involving the CER, EirGrid and ESB Networks, along with industry representatives, was established to assist in communication on issues relating to the Gate among key stakeholders.

The Programme for Government states that a future Gate 4 if required will be plan-led, i.e. future wind farms are to be built in locations where wind regime is best and built in numbers or in clusters to reduce cost of connection to grid. In the event that a Gate 4 process is contemplated in due course, my Department will be engaging with the CER, EirGrid, ESB networks and the industry on its design in light, inter alia, of the Programme for Government.

The CER introduced new application procedures in 2010 for authorisations to construct and licences to generate for generating stations with an installed capacity of 40MW or less. The aim of this decision is to reduce the administrative burden on small scale renewable energy. The new administrative procedures also allow for an authorisation or licence to be granted earlier than hitherto in a project's development.