Minister Eamon Ryan today warmly welcomed the EU Commission's proposals for renewable energy targets. The proposed target of 16% of final energy consumption is in line with the Government's own national targets on renewable energy.
"I welcome the Commission's endorsement of our renewable energy commitments. Our own targets in the electricity, heat and transport (biofuels) mean that we can meet, even surpass the EU targets.
It will not be easy but I believe we can do it. Under my watch, I will work so that Ireland becomes a world leader in renewable energy.
I have begun this process in earnest. First publishing an authoritative study (10 January 2008) demonstrating that we can generate 42% of our electricity from renewable sources, well in excess of our 33% target by 2020. The study also showed the level of Government and private sector investment required for this to occur.
That programme of Government investment is already underway. Last week, I announced a major €26 million package of grants and support for ocean energy in Ireland. In the coming days and weeks, producers of other forms of renewable energy can expect similar supports.
The Government will provide the regulation and support for private industry to invest in this new energy future. Indeed, in many respects the market place is ahead of the game. Companies realise their shareprices are being affected by those looking for foresight on energy costs and emissions released. The clever companies are going green.
Clean energy technologies account for over €100 billion in international investment. In Europe alone, over 300,000 jobs have been created. In meeting our renewable energy targets we will be providing the jobs of the future for Ireland. We will also reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and our carbon emissions at the same time.
The Stern report told us that the cost of inaction on climate change targets is at least 10 times the costs of appropriate action. Doing nothing is the most expensive option."
ENDS
Note for Editors
National Renewable Energy Targets
The energy market can be divided (as a rule of thumb) 33% electricity, 33% heat and 33% transport.
The Energy White Paper set targets for each sector. The sectoral targets and (rounded) aggregate energy target can be summarised as follows:
Sector Targets % of all energy (rounded)
Electricity 33% 11%
Heat 10% 3%
Transport
(biofuels) 12% 4%
Aggregate NA 18%
EU Commission proposed targets
The EU target for Ireland is 16% of overall energy consumption.
“Éire ar an mbealach chun spriocanna fuinnnimh inathnuaite an AE a bhaint amach” – an tAire Ó Riain
“Tada a dhéanamh an rogha is daoire againn; cinnteoidh beart láithreach anois an todhchaí eacnamaíoch dúinn.”
Baile Átha Cliath, 23ú Eanáir 2008
D’fhear an tAire Ó Riain fír-chaoin fáilte roimh togra Choimisiún an Aontais Eorpaigh (AE) um spriocanna fuinneamh inathnuaite. Tá an sprioc 16% de thomhaltas fuinnimh deireanach ar aon dul le spriocanna náisiúnta an rialtais féin um fhuinneamh inathnuaite.
“Cuirim fáilte roimh taca an Choimisiúin dár ngeallta um fhuinneamh inathnuaite. Agus spriocanna dár gcuid féin againn i leith leictreachais, teasa agus iompair (bithbhreoslaí) tarlaíonn gur féidir linn spriocanna an AE a bhaint amach nó fiú a shárú.
“Ní bheidh sé éascaí orainn ach creidim go bhfuil sé ar ár gcumas é a dhéanamh. Agus mise i bhfeighil oibreoidh mé chun go rachaidh Éire ina cheannródaí domhanda um fhuinneamh inathnuaite.
“Tá an próiseas seo tosnaithe agam agus tosnaithe go maith. Ar an gcéad dul síos d’fhoilsíos staidéar údarásach (an 10ú Eanáir) ina léirítear gur féidir linn 42% dár gcuid leictreachais a ghiniúint as foinsí inathnuaite, go mór sa bhreis ar an sprioc atá againn de 33% faoin 2020. Léirítear san staidéar freisin a oiread infheistiú ag an rialtas agus ag an earnáil phríobháideach ar ghá leis sin a aimsiú.
“Tá clár infheistíochta an rialtais faoi lán-tseol cheana féin. An tseachtain seo chaite d’fhógair mé beart deontas agus tacaíochta do chúrsaí fuinneamh na mara in Éirinn de luach €26 mhilliún. Sna laethanta agus seachtainí beaga romhainn tig le táirgeoirí fuinnimh inathnuaite de chineáil eile súil a bheith acu le tacaí ar an dóigh céanna.
“Soláthróidh an rialtas an córas rialachais agus an tacaíocht chun go n-infheisteoidh lucht tionscal príobháideach i dtodhchaí seo an fhuinnimh. Ar go leor bhealach tá an margadh chun tosaigh ina leith seo. Tuigtear do lucht na gcomhlachtaí go bhfuil tionchar ar luach a gcuid scair acu siúd atá ag lorg réamhradharc na gcostas fuinnimh agus na n-astuithe a scaoilfear. Tá na comhlachtaí atá saonta ag dul ar an mbóthar uaithne.
“Is fiú €100 billiún an infheistíocht idirnáisiúnta ins na teicneolaíochtaí fuinnimh glana. San Eoraip amháin cruthaíodh 300,000 post. Ag aimsiú na spriocanna fuinnimh inathnuaite dúinn beidh muid ag cur post ar fáil d’Éirinn an todhchaí. Ní hamháin sin ach go laghdófar ár spleáchas ar bhreoslaí iontaise agus go maolófar ár gcuid astuithe carbóin ag an am céanna.
“Dár le Tuarascáil Stern cosnóidh é orainn deich n-uaire costas an bheart cuí muna dhéanfaimid faic i leith na spriocanna um athrú aeráide. Faic a dhéanamh an rogha is daoire orainn.”
CRÍOCH
Nóta d’eagarthóirí:
Na Spriocanna Náisiúnta um Fhuinneamh Inathnuaite
Tá margadh an fhuinnimh inroinnte isteach is amach idir 33% leictreachas, 33% teas agus 33% iompar.
Leag an Páipéar Bán um Fhuinneamh amach sprioc do ghach earnáil díobh. Féadtar na spriocanna earnála agus an sprioc iomlán fuinnimh sin d’achoimriú mar a leanas:
|
Earnáil |
Sprioc |
% den bhfuinneamh iomlán (slánaithe) |
|
Leictreachas |
33% |
11% |
|
Teas |
10% |
3% |
|
Iompar (bithbhreoslaí) |
12% |
4% |
|
Iomlán |
-- |
18% |
Sprioc á thogairt ag Coimisiún an AE
Is é togra Choimisiún an AE ar sprioc na hÉireann ná 16% den tomhaltas fuinnimh iomlán.