Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his proposals for expanding wind energy exports; his targets regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53263/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In 2011, Ireland had 17.6% renewable electricity, 3.6% biofuels and 5% renewable heating, which amounted in total to 6.5% of all energy consumed being from renewable sources.

Our intention, in order to meet our 2020 binding targets, is to increase renewable energy to 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heating sector, which together amounts to 16% overall, in line with our legally binding target under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

Separate to meeting our challenging national target, the potential for export of renewable electricity was outlined in the Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012-2020, which I published earlier in the year. The mechanisms by which renewable energy can be traded with another country are provided for under the Renewable Energy Directive in Articles 6-12 on cooperation mechanisms.

Countries can agree statistical transfer, which involves the purchase of renewable credits by the importing country in order to meet their target or they can agree joint projects, which involves identifying specific projects for the purpose of renewable trading and agreeing how the projects will be financed and how the renewable value will be counted towards each country’s renewable target under the Directive.

The use of these cooperation mechanisms under the Directive requires formal agreement between two or more Governments.

I have had a number of bilateral discussions with my UK counterpart in this regard and we are actively exploring the possibility of trade in renewable energy between the two jurisdictions, with a view to reaching a Memorandum of Understanding by end year.

There is no specific target for the volume of 'exported' renewable electricity. Following on from the agreement between the two Governments, this would depend on the ability of project developers to progress successfully through the planning systems and build out their proposed projects. There are a number of potential developers of large scale projects, some of whom have already entered the public domain.