Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the alternative energy sector contributes to the national grid to the extent required to comply with international carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4179/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. 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. 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. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland's overall energy requirement was met by renewable energy. This equated to 20.9% of electricity demand, 5.7% of heat demand and 2.8% of transport being met 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. In 2013, 16.5% of electricity demand was met by wind generation. At the end of 2014, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was in excess of 2,500 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target.

Our progress to date has already had a significant impact on the carbon intensity of our economy. The SEAI Energy in Ireland report, 2013 noted that energy related CO2 emissions fell by 3.8% and that the carbon intensity of electricity dropped to a new low of 469 grams of CO2 per kilo watt hour in 2013. Furthermore a report published by the SEAI in 2013 looking at fuel and CO2 emissions in 2012 noted that renewable electricity generation displaced 778 kilo tonnes of oil equivalent of fossil fuel, with an associated saving of almost 2 million tonnes of CO2. The respective monetary savings are €245 million and €15 million.

However, challenges remain in terms of achieving our 2020 targets. Looking beyond 2020, the October 2014 European Council endorsed a binding EU target of at least 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. Ireland intends to make a cost-effective, achievable and fair (in terms of effort sharing among Member States), contribution to these high level EU goals. Various government departments, including my department, are currently undertaking rigorous analysis and modelling to inform Ireland's position ahead of final decisions regarding specific contributions required of Member States.