Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has conducted a cost-benefit analysis of proceeding with the export of wind-generated electricity as opposed to utilising new capacity to contribute to domestic requirements. [1581/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In January of 2013 the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr. Ed Davey MP and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. That Memorandum sent a strong signal of our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain and will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both countries.

A full cost benefit analysis is underway to determine if it is mutually beneficial for Ireland and the United Kingdom to enter an Inter-Governmental Agreement in early 2014 to facilitate trade in renewable energy. A key objective, from an Irish Government perspective, is to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth.

The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding 2020 renewable energy target of 16%. In order to achieve this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources.

To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. At the end of quarter three 2013, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was over 2,100 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Currently, approximately 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.