Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to expand the use of renewable energy. [10511/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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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. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s overall energy requirement was met by renewable energy.

Transitioning to greater use of renewable energy is important for sustainability. Using our indigenous resources is also important given that we currently import 89% of our total energy use including all of our oil, and over 95% of our gas. In 2013 we spent approximately €6.7 billion on imported energy. Keeping some of that €6.7 billion in our own economy would facilitate investment, growth and jobs, and enhance our balance of payments.

There are a range of policies in place to incentivise the increased use of renewable energy. The REFIT schemes underpin the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies, including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind. To date, wind energy has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target.

Part L of the Building Regulations supports the uptake of renewable heat and the recently published Draft Bioenergy Plan recommends the introduction from 2016 of a Renewable Heat Incentive for larger heat users to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. The Biofuels Obligation Scheme and grant support for the purchase of electric vehicles underpin the deployment of renewable energy in the transport sector.

Looking beyond 2020, the October 2014 European Council endorsed a binding EU target of at least 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by 2030 compared to 1990. In addition, an EU target of at least 27% is set for the share of renewable energy consumed in the EU in 2030, and an indicative target at EU level of at least 27% is set for improving energy efficiency in 2030 compared to projections of future energy consumption.

Ireland intends to make a cost-effective, achievable and fair contribution to these high level EU goals. The Department is overseeing detailed and rigorous energy system and economic modelling to identify the contribution which is appropriate for Ireland, taking account of our specific economic circumstances. This analysis will address issues such as the quantum of additional renewable electricity we should seek to achieve by 2030, the technologies that should be supported in this regard, and the level at which any future supports should be set.