Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

167. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has independently evaluated future scenarios for the delivery of green energy by EirGrid by 2030 and 2040, respectively. [45621/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In order to deliver on the ambition set out in the Climate Action Plan, my Department is developing the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The RESS has been designed within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework and the scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of 70% by 2030. The draft National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (NECP) sets out contributions, targets and objectives at national level in emissions and energy including renewable energy to 2030 and the planned policies and measures to achieve these based on the actions set out in the Climate Action Plan. The final NECP will be published before the end of 2019.

EirGrid has recently published its Tomorrow's Energy Scenarios 2019 which sets out a range of pathways for delivering Ireland's energy transition, with specific focus on the electricity system over the next twenty years. This document is framed against government targets at national and European level for decarbonisation of the energy sector and a large increase in electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.

The Tomorrow's Energy Scenarios are a matter for EirGrid as transmission system operator and the Minister has no function in their evaluation.