Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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481. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he expects to be in a position to meet alternative energy production targets with consequent environmental benefit in the course of the next four years on a yearly basis; if he is satisfied that current proposals in the alternative energy sector are adequate in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30146/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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482. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of alternative energy electricity generation capacity; the degree to which this is on par with expectations and international commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30147/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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484. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that alternative energy production targets can be achieved on time in the future with particular reference to the need to comply with international agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30149/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 481, 482 and 484 together.

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with our EU and international commitments is well understood by the Government, as reflected in the 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development and underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.  The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050.  Statutory authority for the plans is set out in the Act.

In March, I published a draft of Ireland's first National Mitigation Plan for public consultation and I intend to shortly publish the final version of the Plan which will set out what Ireland is doing, and plans to do, to further our transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050.

The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally-binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has calculated that 25.3% of electricity, 6.5% of heat and 5.7% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2015.  Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.1% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2015 were met from renewable sources. 

The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid is 3,174 MW approximately, of which 2,851 MW is wind generation. It is estimated that a total of between 3,900 MW and 4,300 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target. Given that we have 3,174 MW in place, we will need approximately a further 700 MW to 1,100 MW of additional renewable generation to meet our 2020 targets. 

The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes in place  or under development designed to stimulate further progress in the domestic renewable energy sector. These include the Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) schemes for the electricity sector and the Biofuel Obligation Scheme in the transport sector. These schemes have proved successful at incentivising large-scale investment in the renewable industry in recent years.

My Department is also currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme and a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, designed to encourage further investment in the renewable electricity and heat sectors, respectively.  The introduction of any schemes - including the overall costs and technologies to be supported - are subject to Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.

In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. The Biofuels Obligation Scheme (BOS) was increased from 6% to 8% by volume from 1 January 2017.  A public consultation on future increases to the Biofuel Obligation Scheme, required to meet the 2020 renewable transport target will take place later this year.