Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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937. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated amount of electricity, as a percentage, that Ireland will generate from biomass in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11354/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall 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 requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%.

To date wind energy has proved to be the most commercial renewable energy technology in the Irish electricity market. In 2013, 16.5% of Ireland's electricity demand was met by wind generation. Nevertheless, diversification of the renewable generation portfolio in the longer term will be important for creating a sustainable, carbon free, electricity system. In this regard, biomass will have a role to play. Electricity generated from biomass is already supported through the three REFIT schemes and, depending on electricity demand, the full implementation of current policies could mean that up to 5% of electricity may be generated from biomass in 2020. Biomass is likely, however, to have a more significant role to play in the heat and transport sectors where fewer alternative technologies exist.

In this regard, the analysis underpinning the recently published Draft Bioenergy Plan is that an additional bioenergy focussed measure in the heat sector would represent the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals, including reducing the emerging gap to meeting 12% renewable energy in the heat sector. Accordingly, the draft plan recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive to incentivise larger heat users in the industrial and commercial sector to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources.

The design of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme will commence this year and will include public consultation, the first stage of which will be launched shortly. Once designed, it will require State Aid clearance from the European Commission and further Government approval. Subject to these approvals, it is proposed to have the scheme in place in 2016.