Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1497. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amounts paid in subsidies to wind farms and wind energy projects for each of the past four years; his plans to end the subsidising of this form of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1147/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy, including the Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff 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.

The overall cost of renewable energy supports, funded through the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy, is published in the annual PSO decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The information published by the CER is not broken down by technology. However, to date, wind has proved to be the most cost-effective renewable energy technology in the electricity sector and makes up the largest share of the renewable generation portfolio which receives financial support.

In 2015, wind generation accounted for 22.8% of the electricity generated and was the second largest source of electricity generation after natural gas. Moreover, the use of renewables in electricity generation in 2015 reduced CO2 emissions by 3.2 Mt and avoided €286 million in fossil fuel imports.

The following table presents the total costs for both the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) support scheme and REFIT schemes since 2013:

Prior to the introduction of REFIT, a tender scheme, called the Alternative Energy Requirement was used to support renewable energy in Ireland. Under AER, there were six calls for tenders (AER I – AER VI) between the mid-1990s and 2003. The AER scheme is now closed to new applications, but will continue to be funded through the PSO mechanism to 2021.

The REFIT schemes closed to new applications on 31 December 2015 but funding for compliant wind energy projects under the REFIT schemes will continue to be funded through the PSO mechanism to 2032.

The development of renewable energy in Ireland via a range of technology specific supports is one of the best ways to encourage the transition to a low carbon economy and diversify our energy generation portfolio. This is why my Department introduced REFIT support schemes across a range of different renewable electricity technologies. A new renewable electricity support scheme which is currently under development will seek to further diversify this technology mix and ensure on-going value for money for consumers.