Energy diversity issues: The Government's energy Green Paper has set ambitious targets for renewable energy as a way to provide alternative fuel sources. It also argues for UK and continental interconnectors to improve our security of energy supply.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had no fewer than six Ministers on hand yesterday at Government Buildings for the launch of the Green Paper, Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland. It was indicative of the importance given to the energy issue by Government and was at "the very top of the political agenda", Mr Ahern said.
Minister for Communications Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey provided an overview of the document and highlighted its key arguments.
It established "three pillars" of energy policy: security of supply, environmental sustainability and competitiveness, he said.
Central to security of supply was the building of more interconnectors with Britain and the continent.
"Enhanced electricity interconnection with Northern Ireland and the development of a new electricity interconnector with Britain will be completed by 2012, and sooner if possible," Mr Dempsey stated.
Together these could provide up to 1,000 megawatts of power. "Further interconnection, possibly with the European mainland, will be under way or in place by 2020," he added.
Fuel diversity was another means of ensuring security of supply. The Green Paper sets a target of 30 per cent for the renewable energy contribution to overall energy demand by 2020, he said.
Sources would include wind and biomass, but by that date other technologies might be available, including clean coal and wave/tidal sources, the Minister said.
Biomass would also be used to extend the lifetime of existing peat supplies for power stations. Up to 30 per cent of fuel demand for peat stations would be from biomass by 2015, Mr Dempsey said.
Further security would be provided by "robust emergency planning", expanded oil and gas strategic reserves and larger storage facilities.
The Green Paper calls for the opening of a "landbank" of suitable sites to bring more companies on to the electricity supply market.
"One of the major barriers for people coming into the electricity market is there are very few suitable sites outside of the control of the ESB," Mr Dempsey said.
The ESB would be decommissioning a number of plants in the coming years and these sites could be made available to competing companies. "This would remove a significant barrier to new entry and has been used successfully elsewhere to encourage new entry," the Minister stated.
The document suggests that greater efficiency in the way energy is used could result in an immediate saving of 20 per cent.
It argues that the Government's commitment to offshore exploration for gas is "critical".
Fine Gael energy spokesman Bernard Durkan said the Green Paper contained little more than aspirational proposals. He also said it lacked costings.
Labour energy spokesman Tommy Broughan welcomed the Green Paper but said key issues still needed to be addressed before the publication of the final White Paper.
Green TD Eamon Ryan said the document was "remarkably disappointing when you consider we have been waiting almost 30 years for a declared energy policy.
" The lack of any long-term climate change targets in the paper is an abdication of responsibility."