Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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492. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will set out the vision for the enhancement of the development of natural energy from solar, hydro, wind, wave or other sources over the next five years with particular reference to the need for a combination of energy sources to ensure continuity of supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30157/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The 2015 Energy White Paper and the 2016 Programme for Government recognise that Ireland’s long-term interests are best supported by further decreasing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels through the continued development of indigenous renewable energy.

At the national level, 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. Good progress has been made to date, but the target remains challenging, particularly in light of economic growth and a growing demand for energy.  Latest figures by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for 2015 indicate that 9.1% of the overall 16% target was met by renewable sources. Ireland has made considerable progress in the decarbonisation of our electricity sector in recent years, with over 27% of our electricity coming from renewable sources in 2016. This progress, while welcome, will need to accelerate in pace in the coming years.

The Government has adopted a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy.  The primary support mechanism is the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which currently support the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind.

With regard to future policy initiatives, my Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The design of the new scheme is underway, and includes an extensive independent economic appraisal of multiple renewable electricity technologies. This economic appraisal involves comparing the cost of supporting solar, offshore wind, onshore wind, hydro, ocean energy (including wave) and a range of other commercial renewable technologies, to ensure that the new scheme delivers value for money for energy users whilst also delivering on the energy pillars of sustainability and security of supply. The assessment also includes analysis of the optimum financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies, in line with the 2014 EU State Aid Guidelines.

A public consultation on the new scheme is due to be published next month, and following this it will need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in 2018.

Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world and offshore renewable energy will have an important role in Ireland’s future renewable energy mix.  While offshore wind has had been developed successfully, globally, wave and tidal energy is still at the R&D stage. Notwithstanding the development of promising experimental devices, more research, development and trials are required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability.