Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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106. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the renewable on demand power source his Department is considering developing for electricity generation over the term of this Government in view of the reduction of indigenous gas supply with the cessation of production at Kinsale gas field. [21211/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is driving the renewable energy revolution such that reliance on fossil fuels is reduced as quickly as possible and to the maximum extent possible. The Programme for Government commits to taking the steps to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 by inter alia,: - Holding the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction by the end of 2020, with auctions held each year thereafter, including the first RESS auction for offshore wind in 2021;

- Producing a whole-of-government plan setting out how we will deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and how we will develop the necessary skills base, supply chains, legislation, and infrastructure to enable it.

- Continuing Eirgrid’s programme ‘Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System’

- Strengthening the policy framework to incentivise electricity storage and interconnection

Good progress is already being made on a number of these commitments, including the first RESS auction, the results of which are expected to be considered by Government shortly. This will deliver new renewable energy projects to the grid at scale, for the first time ever targeting solar farms to power Irish homes. Onshore and offshore wind as well as sustainable biomass technologies are also eligible to participate in the RESS auctions, with the first offshore wind auction planned for next year.

Currently, gas powered generation provides back-up for intermittent renewable generation.  Gas Network Ireland estimates that for the gas year 2019-2020, Kinsale supplied around 1% of Ireland’s natural gas supply, Corrib 39%, with the remaining 60%  being supplied via Interconnectors to  Scotland.   My Department is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems which is focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. The review will include a full updated technical analysis of the security of supply challenges and a public consultation. The outcome of the review will inform future policy considerations and I expect the formal procurement process for the technical analysis to commence in the coming weeks.

As Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, flexibility provided through storage technologies and interconnection will be critical in ensuring that renewable energy can supply Ireland's power demands. In the longer term green hydrogen is expected to play a key role in delivering a high renewable power system.