John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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517. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the production of electricity by renewable energy sources in megawatts here; the level of megawatts required to meet the 40% target of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42653/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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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) have estimated the breakdown of the production of electricity from renewable sources at end 2016 as follows: 

Most recent provisional data from the SEAI indicates that 27.2% of electricity, 6.8% of heat and 5.0% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at end 2016.  Overall, SEAI analysis shows that 9.5% of Ireland’s energy requirements in 2016 were met from renewable sources. 

At September 2017, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was 3,400 MW approximately of which 3,080 MW was wind generation. A breakdown of the other renewable technologies is not currently available.  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.  

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 designed to encourage further investment in renewable electricity.  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.