Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether sufficient offshore wind energy could be constructed in the Irish Sea by 2020 to reach the 2020 renewable energy target. [34064/16]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has commenced a cost benefit analysis on offshore wind; the scope of this report; his plans for engaging with Irish and international companies seeking to invest in offshore wind energy here and the timescale for completion of the report. [34065/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.

The Government’s policy in relation to the sustainable development of our indigenous offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources is set out in the 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP).  The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the plan found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind generation could be sustainably developed in Irish waters. I understand that consents have been issued in respect of a number of offshore wind projects in the Irish sea. Investment decisions are commercial matters for developers.  

My officials engage with the offshore wind energy industry on an on-going basis, including through meetings with the Offshore Renewable Energy Steering Group, which was established to implement the OREDP and is chaired by my Department.

As regards the legally binding target set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020, the Government has adopted a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy.  Good progress has been made to date, but the target remains challenging.  Figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)for 2015 indicate that 9.1% of the overall 16% target was met by renewable sources.

The primary support mechanism in the electricity sector is the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which support the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind.

My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).  In-depth economic analysis is underway to inform the actual cost of a new scheme and, while no decision has been taken on the precise renewable technologies to be supported, the cost and technical viability of solar photovoltaic (PV), bio-energy and offshore wind are being examined as part of the assessment process.  

Once this analysis is complete, a public consultation on the new scheme will be published. This consultation is expected in the first half of 2017 and it is expected that the new scheme will be announced in late 2017 subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.