Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if hydro-electricity generation has been displaced by wind or other forms of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21181/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The generation of electricity from renewable sources is an important element of Ireland’s transition to a lower carbon energy system. Hydro electricity makes a significant contribution to our renewable electricity. In April 2015 there was 2,576MW of renewable electricity connected to the Irish Grid, 238MW of which was from hydro. Onshore wind contributed 2256MW, and biomass contributed 82 MW.

Additionally, there is approximately 3760MW of renewable electricity generation with signed grid connection offers. This is predominantly wind generation.

It is also important to note that rules are in place to deal with “priority dispatch”, i.e., when electricity generators produce more electricity than the grid can handle at a particular time. Those rules are implemented in the All Island Electricity Market by the Single Electricity Market Committee. While this is a matter in which I have no function, I would highlight that EU Regulation 2009/28/EU requires Member States to give priority dispatch to renewable generation on the electricity grid, including to hydro-electric generators, unless the generator concerned has elected to forego priority dispatch and to trade in the market. It is the case that hydro-electric generators who have elected to avail of priority dispatch may have their output reduced under certain circumstances. In such instances, these hydro generators are compensated in the Single Electricity Market.