Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of electricity generated from oil, coal, gas, biomass, solar, wind or wave generation; the extent to which this is expected to change within the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14519/19]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which wind energy, hydro or other non-fossil fuel generated electricity is available to EirGrid; the extent to which this can be reflected as a percentage of total requirements at maximum load times; his plans to address the deficit within a reasonable period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14526/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 248 together.

The most recent Energy in Ireland report which covered the period up to end 2017 was published in December 2018 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Renewables, including wind (25%) generated around 30% of Ireland's electricity in 2017, with the other main sources being gas at 51%, coal 12% and peat 7%.

EirGrid as Transmission System Operator ensure the power system remains stable through all grid conditions. They have indicated that wind and hydro accounted for 34% of electricity consumption during maximum load periods (5pm to 7pm) during the winter months from November 2018 to February 2019.

In 2010, EirGrid launched the Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Power System (DS3) programme which allows increasing levels of wind and solar generation on the grid while maintaining grid security. The DS3 Programme now allows for two thirds of electricity at any one time being generated on the island of Ireland to come from wind, solar generation, hydro and other non-fossil fuel, with the goal of increasing this level to 75% in 2020.

We are stepping up our ambition on renewable energy - by 2030, I have committed to 70% of our electricity being generated from renewable sources.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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244. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he has identified the economic benefits accruing to the economy from a switch to home-based alternative electricity generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14522/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) work closely with my Department and present a comprehensive overview of energy supply and demand in Ireland to inform Government policy.

As part of their work, the SEAI publishes an annual “Energy in Ireland” Report which presents national energy statistics on energy production and consumption over a set period. The latest available Report is the 2018 Report which covers the period 1990-2017 and was published in December 2018.

The reports shows that in 2017, approximately €439 million in fossil fuel imports were avoided by the use of renewables, of which €226 million was avoided by wind generation.

THE SEAI have also modelled the impact that meeting our renewable electricity targets will have on the Irish economy. Their analysis presents the net new direct jobs (from technology installations), indirect jobs (created in supply chains), induced jobs (from increased consumption), and jobs linked to increased investment in capital stock in the year 2020. Their analysis identified that renewable electricity generation (primarily onshore wind) has a positive impact on the Irish economy and net employment by 2020 with a total of 4,400 net jobs created in 2020. These include over 2,000 direct jobs in construction related to onshore wind with over 500 on-going direct jobs in operations and maintenance. The remaining jobs are in the supply chain and as a result of higher expenditure in the wider economy. The analysis further suggests that GDP could increase by between €305-€585 million as a result of building new wind farms and the expansion of the electricity grid, by 2020.