Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the projected impact on the energy grid in terms of fossil fuel consumption if Ireland reaches its renewable targets for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10500/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to come, progress is being made towards increasing the share of renewable energy in our generation portfolio. Figures for 2012 show that 19.6% of electricity demand was met from renewables. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. The work of the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) shows that, in total since 2006, wind energy has avoided in the order of €1.1 billion in fossil fuel imports, primarily of gas, but also oil.

To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. In 2012, 15.3% of electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of 2013, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was around 2,300 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, around 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.

EirGrid and the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) have embarked on a multi-year programme "Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System" (DS3) which is designed to ensure that we can securely operate the power system with increasing amounts of variable non-synchronous renewable generation. As part of its DS3 programme, EirGrid is looking at changes to ancillary services provided by conventional (fossil fuel) generators, to reflect the greater flexibility needed with growing levels of renewable energy on the power system.