“I have long said that Ireland can be a world leader in sustainable energy”, said Minister Ryan as he completed the launch of a package enhancing the public financial support system for renewable electricity generation. “Ireland needs to reduce our fossil fuel import bill and our dependence on imported energy sources. Renewable electricity is a critical cornerstone of Ireland’s approach to moving towards a low-carbon and robust economy”.
“Ireland has one of the finest renewable energy resource potentials in the world. Today we are making important steps to ensure that it is tapped”.
The renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme (REFIT), administered by the Minister’s Department, and supported by Sustainable Energy Ireland, delivers the requisite stability for project developers to secure financing. The Scheme will provide incentives and encouragement for individuals and businesses wishing to invest in or develop power from renewable sources. It does this by providing a guaranteed price for electricity produced by new plants for 15 years.
Today, Minister Ryan announced the latest change to the REFIT scheme, which will support the development of offshore wind-power projects at a price of €140 per megawatt hour of power produced.
“The support price is in line with what other countries are offering and without it we would not be able to attract any investment into Ireland. Now, investors can be confident when they invest in offshore wind.
In order to further assist the offshore industry, my department is working on a proposal with colleagues from Scotland and Northern Ireland on the feasibility of building new sub-sea transmission links along the Irish sea This could be part of a new extended European off-shore grid connecting wind farms from other jurisdictions so that electricity will be produced on a consistent and predictable basis. If we can connect and integrate wind farms from other jurisdictions, electricity will be produced wherever the wind is blowing.
Offshore wind projects and investors will reap the benefits of the guaranteed price and further connection with Europe. Projects of real scale can be developed.
Ultimately, this will benefit the electricity consumer and the nation as we move towards a low-carbon and strong economy. Today’s move will help us meet our climate change and renewable energy targets”
ENDS
For further media information, please contact:-
Sheol an tAire Ó Riain Tacaíocht Nua do Phraghas ar Ghiniúint ón nGaoth Amuigh ón gCósta
Baile Átha Cliath, 8ú Feabhra 2008
“Tá ráite agam le fada gur thig le hÉirinn bheith ina ceannródaí i gcúrsaí fuinnimh inmharthana,” arsa an tAire Ó Riain agus beart á sheoladh aige d’fhonn feabhas a chur ar an dtacaíocht airgeadais poiblí le giniúint leictreachais inmharthana. “Tá ar Éirinn a bille onnmhairithe um bhreoslaí iontaise agus a spleáchas ar fhoinsí fuinnimh onnmhairithe a laghdú. Is é leictreachas as foinsí inmharthana bunchloch do bhealach na hÉireann chun gluaiseacht i dtreo eacnamaíocht ar lú a charbóin ach fos atá urrúnta.”
“Tá cumas na hÉireann um fhoinsí fuinnimh inmharthana orthu siúd is fearr ar domhain. Tá céimeanna tábhachtacha á nglacadh againn inniu chun a chinntiu go mbaintear leas as.”
Cuireann an clár Taraife um Fhuinneamh Inmharthana ar Fhotha (TFIF), arna riaradh ag Roinn an Aire agus le tacaíocht ó Fhuinneamh Inmharthana Éireann, an seasmhacht ar ghá do fhorbróirí tionscnamh chun teacht ar mhaoin chuige. Tabharfaidh an scéim spreagadh agus gríosú do dhaoine aonair agus do ghnólachtaí ar shuim leo infheistíocht nó forbairt san earnáil cumhacht a bhaint as fhoinsí inmharthana. Déantar seo le praghas a ghealluint as leictreachas a ghintear ag innealra nua thar tréimhse 15 bhliana.
Inniu d’fhógair an tAire an leasú is déanaí don gclár Taraife um Fhuinneamh Inmharthana ar Fhotha, leasú a chuideoidh le forbairt na dtionscnamh a bhaineann cumhacht ón ngaoth amuigh ón gcósta de €1.40 a íoc in aghaidh an MWhr a ghintear.
“Ta an praghas tacaíochta ar aon dul lena bhfuil á thairiscint ag tíortha eile agus ina éagmais ní fheadfaimis aon infheistíocht a mhealladh chun na hÉireann. Anois beidh iontaoibh ag infheisteoirí as baint na gaoithe amuigh ón gcósta a mhaoiniú.
“D’fhonn breis cúnaimh a thabhairt don tionscal ar mhuir tá comhoibriú idir mhuintir mo ranna féin agus a gcomhghuaillithe in Albain, i dTuaisceart Éireann agus san Bhreatain Bhig ar chíacu a bhfuil sé indéanta nascanna tarchuir fóthoinn nua a thógáil feadh an Mhuir Mheann. D´fhéadfhadh a leithéad a bheith mar chuid de oll-ghréasán Eorpach agus é sínte amach ar mhuir chun idirnascadh a dheanamh idir feirmeacha gaoithe i ndlínsí éagsúla chun go bhféadfaí leictreachas a ghiniúint ar bhonn chomhsheasmhach intuartha. Más féidir linn feirmeacha gaoithe a idirnascadh agus a chomhtháthú ó dhlínse go dlínse d’fhéadfaí leictreachas a ghiniúint cibé uair a bheadh an ghaoth ag séideadh.
“Bainfidh tionscnaimh gaoithe amuigh ón gcósta agus a gcuid infheisteoirí leas as buan-phraghas a bheith geallta agus as nasc le mór-roinn na hEorpa. D’fhéadfaí tionscnaimh ar fhíor mhór-scála a fhorbairt.
I ndeireadh na dála an tomhaltóir leictreachais a bheidh thuas leis de réir mar a dhruidimid chuig eacnamaíocht urrúnta ar lú a chuid charbóin. Cabhróidh beart an lae inniu linn ár gcuid spriocanna i leith athrú aeráide agus fuinnimh inmharthana a aimsiú.”
CRÍOCH