Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today published the Government’s proposed Biofuels Obligation Scheme for public consultation.
This scheme will set a percentage target of transport fuels used in the State which must consist of biofuels and sets certain conditions regarding the type of biofuels which can be counted towards that target. The obligation will apply to fuel companies, placing no burden on the taxpayer. It will be a key component in achieving the EU target of 10% penetration of renewable energy in transport by 2020. The Government remains committed to this target.
The consultation document proposes a target of 4% by volume of transport fuel by 2010, equating to 3% by energy. It attaches an important condition; the biofuels must come from sustainable sources.
Biofuels in Ireland must be entirely compliant with EU Sustainability Criteria, which are currently being finalised. These will set out stringent conditions which fuels must meet before they can be considered as contributing to the EU targets, including:
- a minimum level of greenhouse gas savings
- biodiversity requirements to prevent certain lands such as natural forests and protected areas being used in the production of biofuels
- social reporting obligations on the Commission
The essential aim of these criteria is to ensure that biofuels used within the EU do not result in adverse consequences for societies and the environment globally. They will also encourage the next generation of biofuels and support investment in cleaner and more sustainable types of transport fuels.
The Government’s targets up to 2020 will be continually reviewed as more evidence comes to light on the effects of biofuels in the world food markets and new technologies come on stream.
Publishing the Scheme Minister Eamon Ryan said, “This new target reflects growing concerns, that increases in the amounts of biofuels being produced were having some adverse environmental and developmental effects around the world. We will move towards 2020 with gradual, careful progress.
However, biofuels remain a fundamentally good idea, given that we need alternative sources of fuel. The era of cheap oil is over and Ireland requires new methods of fuelling our transport fleet.
Biofuels also remain necessary for Ireland terms of energy security. We need access to a certain percentage of non-fossil fuel to run essential services, in the event of a global oil shortage. This is prudent planning in an uncertain energy world.
The target will encourage the growth of a biofuels industry in Ireland providing new opportunities for our farmers. The Sustainability Criteria will ensure that the biofuels we encourage will be of the best kind and help in the fight against climate change.
This report aims to strike a balance between all these needs. There will be an 8 week consultation period and I remain open to advice and submissions from all parties on this proposed scheme. I would encourage development NGOs, farming organisations and environmental groups to take part in this consultation process.”
The Consultation Paper can be viewed at: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Biofuels+Obligation+Scheme.htm
ENDS
Spriocanna Nua um Bhithbhreoslaí in Éirinn á Moladh ag an Aire Ó Riain
Baile Átha Cliath, 29ú Meán Fómhair 2008
D’fhoilsigh an tAire um Chumarsáid Éamonn Ó Riain togra an rialtais um Scéim na gCeanglas Bithbhreoslaí inniu le haghaidh comhairliúcháin phoiblí.
Faoin scéim ainmneofar mar sprioc an céatadán des na breoslaí iompair a úsáidtear san stát a chaithfear bheith ina mbithbhreoslaí agus leagtar amach coinníollacha maidir leis na cineálacha bithbhreosla a áireofar i leith na sprice. Leagfar an ceanglas ar na gnólachtaí breosla gan tromualach a chaitheamh ar an íocaí cánach. Bun-mhír a bheidh ann chun sprioc an AE, treá de 10% den fhuinneamh inmharthana in earnáil an iompair faoi 2020, a aimsiú. Seasann an rialtas go daingean leis an sprioc seo.
San cháipéis chomhairliúcháin moltar sprioc de 4% de thoirt na mbreoslaí iompair faoi 2010, sprioc atá ar chomh-mhéid le 3% den bhfuinneamh atá i gceist. Leagtar coinníoll tábhachtach ar an scéim go gcaithfear na bithbhreoslaí a bhaint as foinsí inathnuaite.
Caithfidh bithbhreoslaí in Éirinn géilleadh go hiomlán do Chritéir Inmharthana an AE atá á dtabhairt chun bailchríche faoi láthair. Leagfaidh siad san coinníollacha diana ar ghá do bhreoslaí a chomhlíonadh chun gur féidir iad a áireamh i leith spriocanna an AE, ina measc:
– íosmhéid de choigiltis ghás ceaptha teasa
– riachtanais bhithéagsúlachta chun úsáid tailte áirithe ar nós foraoisí nádúrtha agus suímh chaomhnaithe a thoirmisc ó thaobh táirgeadh bithbhreoslaí
– ceanglais ar an gCoimisiún um thuairisciú sóisialta.
Is í bun-aidhm na gcritéar seo a chinntiú nach leanfaidh droch-thorthaí do phobail an domhain ná don chomhshaol domhanda ar na bithbhreoslaí a úsáidtear san AE. Spreagfaidh siad teacht na chéad ghlúine eile de bhithbhreoslaí ar an saol agus tabharfaidh siad tacaíocht don infheistíocht i gcineálacha breoslaí iompair atá níos glaine agus níos inmharthana.
Athbhreithneofar spriocanna an rialtais amach go dtí 2020 go rialta i bhfianaise na faisnéise a thagann ar aghaidh i leith tionchar na mbithbhreoslaí ar mhargaí bia an domhain agus na dteicneolaíochtaí nua a thagann chun tosaigh.
Agus an scéim á fhoilsiú aige dúirt an tAire Ó Riain: “Léirítear san sprioc nua borradh ar an imní go raibh droch-thionchar comhshaoil agus forbartha ar fud an cruinne as an bhfás i táirgeadh na mbithbhreoslaí. Chun na bliana 2020 linn go céimneach cúramach.
“Is maith iad na bithbhreoslaí go bunúsach áfach ós uainn foinsí eile breoslaí. Tá deireadh le ré an ola shaoir agus tá modhanna nua uainn in Éirinn leis an gcabhlach iompair a bhreoslú.
“Is gá na bithbhreoslaí freisin d’fhonn sláine an fhuinnimh in Éirinn. Caithfear teacht ar chéatadán áirithe breosla nach breosla ionchais é chun seirbhísí tábhachtacha a choinneáil ar siúil i gcás ganntanas ola domhanda. Pleanáil stuama í seo i saol neamhchinnte an fhuinnimh ar fud an domhain.
“Spreagfaidh an sprioc fás tionscal na mbithbhreoslaí in Éirinn agus soláthróidh sí deiseanna nua dár gcuid fheirmeoirí. Cinnteofar leis na Critéir Inmharthana gur den scoth na bithbhreoslaí a spreagfar agus cabhrófar san bhfeachtas in aghaidh athrú na haeráide.
“San tuarascáil seo táthar ag iarraidh teacht ar chothroime sa bhfreastal ar na glaonna go léir. Beidh achar 8 seachtain ann mar thréimhse comhairliúcháin agus éistfidh mé le comhairle agus le haighneachtaí ón uile-dhuine i leith na scéime molta seo. Molaim do eagrais neamh-rialtais um fhorbairt, d’eagraíochtaí na bhfeirmeoirí agus do grúpaí comhshaoil páirt a ghlacadh san phróiseas seo.”
Feictear an Cháipéis Chomhairliúcháin ar: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Biofuels+Obligation+Scheme.htm
CRÍOCH