Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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1131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of wind turbines currently in the State; the current number applied for; the additional number needed to reach the Government's 40% generation from wind target; and if he will provide these figures both in turbine numbers, capacity output and real-time output predictions. [22218/15]

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. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish 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. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Good progress is being made towards increasing the share of renewable energy in our generation portfolio.

The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid at the beginning of March 2015 (latest data) was just under 2,600 MW of which 2,200 MW is wind. A further 3,700 MW of renewable generation is contracted for connection to the grid, of which almost 3,600 MW is wind generation. Detailed information in relation to the amount of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the electricity grid, including capacity that is contracted for connection, is available on EirGrid’s and ESB Networks’ websites at and respectively.

Provisional figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicate that the total contribution from renewable generation to gross electricity consumption in 2014 was 22.6%. 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 achieve 40% renewable electricity.

Information in regard to actual and forecast wind generation is available at

Looking to the European Union's emerging climate and energy targets for 2030, it is likely that all Member States will be required to expand their renewable electricity generation portfolios beyond their 2020 capacities.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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1132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the land mass required to host the number of turbines it would take to meet the Government's target of 40% electricity generation from wind. [22219/15]

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 energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that between 3,500MW and 4,000MW of renewable electricity generation will be required to achieve the target of 40% renewable electricity by 2020. Given that we already have 2,600MW in place, we will need between approximately 900MW and 1,400MW additional generation to meet our 2020 target. The design of a wind farm, and hence the land mass it occupies, is a matter for the wind farm developer and must be carried out in accordance with the relevant planning legislation and guidance.

In this regard, work is being advanced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines. It is proposed to update certain sections of the existing guidelines. Draft guidelines were published in December 2013 for public consultation. Submissions were received from around 7,500 organisations and members of the public during the public consultation period. Following consideration of the submissions, the revisions to the guidelines will be finalised and issued to planning authorities under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

Separately, my Department is preparing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, which is to be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The proposed Framework will be completed in 2015, and will be a high level strategic policy, which is intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily in relation to large scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence in the coming weeks with the publication of the Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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1133. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has completed a hydro-geological study on the cumulative impact of the Government's proposal to produce 40% of our electricity from wind in view of the amount of concrete need for each turbine base, hard stand areas and associated road infrastructures required by turbines. [22220/15]

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 energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Ireland currently has approximately 2,600MW of renewable electricity generation of which 2,200MW is wind generation. It is estimated that between 3,500MW and 4,000MW of renewable electricity generation will be required to achieve the target of 40% renewable electricity by 2020. Given that we already have 2,600MW in place, we will need between approximately 900MW and 1,400MW additional generation to meet our 2020 target.

Typically, an individual wind farm project is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) where the wind farm has greater than 5 turbines or a generating capacity greater than 5MW. This means, as part of the planning process, the project proposer must prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) examining the impact the particular development, such as a wind farm, will have on the receiving and surrounding environment. The EIA is then carried out by the appropriate competent planning authority on a project specific basis.

Separately, my Department is preparing a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, which is to be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment and focusing on requirements out to 2030. The Environmental Report developed to inform the Strategic Environmental Assessment will include areas designated pursuant to the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, and will also assess any effects on the environment including on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, climatic factors, material assets and cultural heritage and the interrelationship between the above factors.

The proposed Framework will be completed in early 2016, and will be a high level strategic policy, which is intended for the guidance of persons seeking development consent primarily in relation to large scale renewable electricity projects, as well as for the guidance of planning authorities, statutory authorities and the public. The next stage of public consultation will commence in the coming weeks with the publication of the Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report.