RenewablesMinister for Communications and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey has insisted that the 33 per cent target for renewable electricity set in the Government's White Paper on energy is achievable by 2020.
At the launch of the White Paper yesterday, Mr Dempsey rejected suggestions the Government could not make this target or the new EU target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"It would be totally and absolutely unfair, inaccurate to make that type of assertion, and basically wrong," he said.
"The studies we've done, with the information we have, the back-up we have from various State agencies say 33 per cent, one-third, and we're standing over that," Mr Dempsey said.
He said the Government's strategy on renewable energy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by "a minimum two million tonnes" and that other policies would be outlined in the coming months from other Government departments, promising further measures.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said the 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 agreed by the European Union last Friday was "very challenging" but that it could be achieved through various measures in Ireland.
Mr Dempsey also defended the fact that the White Paper had no additional measures in relation to renewable energy compared with those outlined in the Green Paper last October. "We're not going to come out with a policy a week just because it's sexy to talk about climate change," he said.
The White Paper includes a series of measures on renewable energy already outlined in the Green Paper and expanded on in a separate bioenergy strategy published last week.
The Government plans to reach the 33 per cent target through a range of measures. These include financial supports for renewable energy electricity generators such as wind farms in the form of guaranteed prices. It has set a target to replace 30 per cent of peat burned at peat power stations with renewable energy crops such as willow or organic waste like meat and bone meal.
A €150 million energy research programme is also promised in the White Paper, with a special focus on developing ocean energy technology. The strategy aims to have 500 megawatts of capacity from ocean energy within the next 13 years.
It has also set a 5 per cent target for renewables to heat homes and businesses, through an expansion of the greener homes and bioheat grant system.
Dependence on natural gas will be reduced to 50 per cent for power generation under the plan.
The use of new "carbon-capturing" technology to store greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power stations such as Moneypoint is promised in the plan.
The plan sets a 20 per cent target for energy savings from improved efficiencies and conservation methods. These include phasing out traditional light bulbs, beginning with a possible tax or levy on them. Mr Dempsey promised action on this area yesterday, in advance of a proposed EU phasing out of such products from 2009.