Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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192. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding geo thermal energy here in the future; if the energy and technology used is the same as that used in fracking, and his plans to consult with the public in seeking approval for the use of such technology. [43251/13]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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193. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the geothermal industry; his plans for the future regulation of the industry in view of the lack of the primary legislative framework for the exploration, development and commercialisation of geothermal energy [43252/13]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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194. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to geo therrmal energy and its development hre, if there are subsidies available to support renewable projects like GT Energy and his views on the preparation to harness the power of GT Energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43253/13]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to set up an advisory group to report on the impact and implications of seeking to use geo thermal energy here; and the likely finance required to extract and use GT Energy and the implications it might have for the employment market. [43267/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive, and 196 together.

Exploiting deep geothermal energy for electricity production faces a number of challenges in Ireland, including the depths to which drilling would have to be conducted as well as finding a use for the waste heat. Supporting electricity from deep geothermal is likely to be very expensive and it is not one of the technologies supported by renewable energy feed-in tariffs.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has supported a number of studies into geothermal energy, including “Play Fairway Analysis of the Geothermal Potential of Ireland”. Proposed projects may also be considered for funding under the SEAI's Renewable Energy Research, Demonstration and Development programme.

In regard to the question of regulation of the industry, a draft Geothermal Energy Development Bill is available on my Department's website. The intention of the Bill is to create a legislative framework to facilitate the exploration for, and development of, geothermal energy resources. Key elements will include exploring (prospecting) for geothermal energy, regulation of developments above a certain level of capacity, environmental practices, and safety. The policy objective is to facilitate development of both large and small scale systems. It is expected that the Geothermal Energy Development Bill will be published in the second half of 2014.

The processes for the production of deep geothermal energy are different to those used for hydraulic fracturing. For large projects, which require deep geothermal energy extraction, such as power generation or district heating, it may involve drilling two boreholes - one to bring water to the heat source and a second to bring the heated water back to the surface to be used for energy. Sand and chemicals are not used and it does not require the fracturing of rocks. Any proposed geothermal projects would be subject to the planning legislation, including as appropriate the requirements for a full Environmental Impact Statement and public consultation. Currently, there are no large geothermal installations in Ireland.