Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has satisfied himself that alternative energy production targets can be achieved on time in the course of future years with particular reference to the need to comply with international agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42190/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which his Department continues to plan to utilise existing natural resources and invest for the future in his regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42191/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

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 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 27.1% of electricity, 6.7% of heat and 5.0% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2016. Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.4% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2016 were met from renewable sources. While good progress is being made, meeting our 2020 targets will be challenging.

The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid is 3,400 MW approximately, of which 3,080 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 3,400 MW in place, we will need approximately a further 500 MW to 900 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 (RESS) and a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, designed to encourage further investment in the renewable electricity and heat sectors, respectively.  A public consultation on the design principles of the proposed new RESS is currently underway and submissions are invited from the public. 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.