Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which wind and solar electricity generating targets are being realised at present; the extent to which such generation can be accelerated in the short to medium term, with particular reference to the expected contribution to the national grid over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41658/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which the alternative energy electricity generating programme continues at pace, with particular reference to availing of wind generation, onshore and offshore; the precise extent to which this capacity has increased or is increasing with a view to maximisation at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41659/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which wind or solar electricity generation farms continue to be encouraged in the short, medium and long term, with a view to contributing to and stabilising the national grid, given requirements likely in the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41660/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 to 147, inclusive, together.

Under Climate Action Plan Update 24, Ireland has set a target of 80% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 made up of 9 GW of onshore wind, 8 GW of solar and at least 5 GW of offshore wind. This will require unprecedented levels of investment in renewable electricity generation development and in the infrastructure required to expand and strengthen our electricity grid.

Ireland is already a world leader in the integration of variable renewable electricity onto the grid, with over 6 GW of renewable generation capacity currently installed. According to recent data, Ireland ranks second in the world for wind power as a percentage of generation in 2023, with circa 4.8 GW of wind generation connected. Solar PV is now a growing source of electricity and is rapidly transforming Ireland’s energy system by complementing wind power with over 1 GW currently connected, including over 400 MW of rooftop solar and over 600 MW of grid-scale solar.

The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) has been established to identify and prioritise the required policies to achieve our onshore renewable electricity targets. The ARET published its Implementation Plan in June, which sets out the roadmap for the actions to be taken in the near-term to help meet our 2030 targets.

The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) continues to oversee actions required to develop offshore wind generation in Ireland. The OWDT published its Annual Review 2023 and Key Actions for 2024 report in April, which sets out the key measures to be undertaken in the offshore wind sector. While the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy sets out the key actions to develop Ireland’s long-term, plan-led approach to offshore wind.

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the main Government policies to deliver this renewable generation capacity. Five auctions, both onshore and offshore, have been undertaken to date.

The Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) was introduced by Government as a means of supporting 380 megawatts of new micro-generation capacity by 2030. In addition, the Small-Scale Generation Scheme (SRESS) supports non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW.