Thursday, 19 Sep 2024

Renewable Energy Generation

Questions (118)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the latest auction for onshore renewable energy; if he is aware that the volume that was delivered (1,146 and 925 GWh) was far less than was targeted in the Government’s renewable electricity support scheme auction schedule (2,000 – 5,500 GWh); the factors that led to the relatively low amount being delivered; how he plans to address this for the next auction; how this will impact on the 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37061/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The provisional results of the RESS 4 auction results were released on the 9th of September. RESS 4 marks a significant milestone for Ireland’s renewable energy development, securing over a 20% increase in the country’s renewable energy capacity, which achieved lower prices than previous two auctions with the average weighted bid price at €96.85 per MWh.

The RESS 4 auction has provisionally procured over 2TWh (2,070 GWh) of renewable electricity, this is enough to power up to half a million homes. RESS 4 will play a crucial role in reducing energy costs for households and businesses by promoting more affordable renewable energy generation and providing financial benefits to electricity users in Ireland through the associated Community Benefit Funds which will equate to approximately €4.1 million annually.

The volumes procured in RESS 4 are within the target procurement range but at its lower end. This range is based on the pipeline of projects eligible to participate in the auction, along with an assumed level of competition, but not all of these projects participated. Some projects may chose other routes to market such as Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs); projects contracted under CPPAs provide an alternative route to market and do not require support from the Public Sector Obligation.

While RESS 4 has seen an increase in the volume of wind projects taking part and being successful in the auction, the number of onshore wind projects remains relatively low due to the lack of alignment of local development plans with national targets as well as the need for significant electricity grid reinforcements to transport our indigenous renewable energy resources to homes and businesses across the country.

The inclusion of Regional Renewable Electricity Targets in the draft First Revision of the National Planning Framework is a welcome and critical step towards boosting the future pipeline of onshore wind and solar energy projects and supporting Ireland’s competitiveness.

A range of actions under the umbrella of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce are being undertaken to fast track the deliver of renewable energy generation and supporting infrastructure.

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

Questions (119)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications regarding the offshore renewable energy technology roadmap, which has 3.2 gigawatt hours (Gwh) as its baseline target for offshore renewable energy in 2030, which is below the 5Gwh target; the reason there is a discrepancy between these two targets, if it is anticipated that the 5GWh will not be reached by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37068/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2024 commits to achieving at least 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.

The recently published Offshore Renewable Energy Technology Roadmap is an advisory report which has been prepared by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to inform strategic planning and policy development. The SEAI’s Technology Roadmap clearly states that Ireland’s ambition is to deliver 5GW of offshore wind by 2030. This Roadmap maps the pathway to harnessing Ireland's ORE potential by assessing the readiness of technologies and considering both the latest technology innovations, and key future innovations, for ORE technologies relevant to the Irish context.

The Technology Roadmap sets out four deployment scenarios to 2050, which are indicative only and not intended to represent a forecast.

The 3.2GW of fixed offshore wind baseline scenario outlined in the Technology Roadmap reflects the GW capacity of the projects successful in the first offshore auction known as ORESS 1. The two unsuccessful ORESS projects are pursuing alternative routes to market.

The six Phase One projects, representing a combined potential ORE capacity of 4.2GW, have already, or are planning to, submit applications for planning permission.

In addition, Government is advancing ORESS 2.1 to auction the 900MW capacity in the Tonn Nua site of the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), which will bring the State's total ORE capacity above Ireland’s 2030 targets.

The Technology Roadmap is a technical report and not a statement of Government policy. This roadmap will remain under review and will be updated as required and when significant technology or market developments demand it. It considers generating technologies only, and does not examine the development of wider enabling technologies such as interconnection, hydrogen, efuels and other grid flexibility technologies.

Water Pollution

Questions (120)

Niall Collins

Question:

120. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37118/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Water quality is a function of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage and also a function of local authorities.

On matters relating to inland fisheries, I have been advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) - the statutory body tasked with the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource - that on Thursday August 29th , they received reports of a discolouration in the River Deel at Castlemahon. IFI staff attended the scene and carried out a comprehensive investigation. A minor fish mortality event was evidenced with just under 25 fish killed. Samples were taken at this time, and as this matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation, details available at this time are limited.

IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters - such as updates on the outcome of fish kill investigations - can be addressed promptly in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie

Energy Infrastructure

Questions (121)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

121. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount the Government has invested in battery storage capacity from 2020-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37148/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Whilst the Government does not invest in battery storage capacity, my Department published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland on 4th July this year, which expresses the Government’s support for Electricity Storage Systems.

The Policy Framework addresses the role of grid-scale storage on the electricity network in the immediate and near term, outlining the present roles, technical processes, market positions and regulatory structures of electricity storage in Ireland. Further, the policy framework presents 10 Government actions to support the role of electricity storage in Ireland’s energy transition.

Actions #5 to #10 of the policy framework address the ‘Missing money’ problem, due to the existing market structures, associated with electricity storage. The actions set out the Government’s support for electricity storage systems benefitting from energy arbitrage and revenue stacking, the immediate procurement of up to 1GW of storage through new System Operator products (EirGrid’s long-duration energy storage product and ESB Networks’ Demand Flexibility product) and aim to identify and incorporate the optimum amount of electricity storage to meet Ireland’s needs up to 2040, by ensuring the continued investment in electricity storage capable of meeting these needs.

Energy Infrastructure

Questions (122)

Niall Collins

Question:

122. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 876 of 9 September 2024, if his Department received the report referenced in the PQ (details supplied); accepting that he has no official responsibility to Dáil Éireann on this matter, if he has referred this report to the relevant independent agencies and bodies for their follow up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37159/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

A link to the report was contained in correspondence forwarded to my office as part of a question which was previously tabled. However, as previously advised, I have no official responsibility for the matters contained in the report. Any person who has concerns regarding environmental protection should raise them directly with the relevant local authority and the Environmental Protection Agency as appropriate.