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Minister Rabbitte launches Bord na Móna Wind Farm in Bruckhana, Co. Tipperary

Minister Rabbitte launches Bord na Móna Wind Farm

Minister recognises significance of Bord na Móna announcement of plans for wind energy export

The Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte, today launched the construction of a 40 megawatt wind farm by Bord na Móna at Bruckhana, Co. Tipperary.

Speaking at the launch the Minister said, “Ireland has a challenging EU renewable energy target to meet by 2020, which includes meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. We are making progress towards this target however, and development of renewable generation of the scale we will see at Bruckhana is crucial for maintaining the rate of build necessary to achieve our EU target.”

The Minister added, “Ireland is fortunate to have some of the best renewable energy resources in Europe. Not only will the exploitation of this clean, sustainable, indigenous resource allow us to break our dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and reduce our harmful emissions, it also holds the potential for Ireland to become an exporter of renewable energy, with its attendant economic benefits for the country.”

The Minister went on to say, “Yesterday I launched the first stage of a consultation process on the Renewable Energy Export and Development Framework. The approval of any proposed large scale renewable energy export projects must await the putting in place of this framework. I recognise the significance of the announcement Bord na Móna has made here today regarding their Clean Energy Hub. I urge them, and all other prospective developers, to fully engage with this consultation process.”

While highlighting the benefits that renewable energy, for both domestic consumption and export, can bring to Ireland, the Minister also stressed the critical importance of placing the concerns of local communities at the heart of the move to renewable energy. 

Speaking of the central role for project developers in achieving public acceptance of wind energy developments by addressing and mitigating human, environmental and landscape impacts and delivering the best possible engineering solutions, he called on developers to communicate fully, and accurately, the local and national socio-economic benefits flowing from investment in their projects, and to examine how best to deliver community gain.

The current public consultation on the Renewable Energy Export and Development Framework is the first of 3 public consultations to be held on the framework. Written submissions on the framework, including key environmental issues to be addressed in the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, may be made by 22 November. 

Ends

Note for editors:

· The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020.

· In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources.

· Provisional figures for 2012 indicate that 6.9% of our overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, made up of 19.5% in electricity, 5.1% in heat and 2.3% in transport.

· To date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in renewable electricity, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. In 2012, 15.5% of Ireland's electricity demand was met by wind generation.

· At the end of quarter three this year, the total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid was just over 2,100 MW. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW of onshore renewable generation capacity will be required to allow Ireland to meet its 40% renewable electricity target.

· Currently, 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme.

· Information from the launch on 23 October of the consultation on the Renewable Energy Export and Development Framework can be found at: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2013/CONSULTATION+ON+NATIONAL+RENEWABLE+EXPORT+POLICY+BEGINS.htm