Sir, – The article "Renewable energy commitments 'could cost extra €200m'" (November 3rd) cites claims that Ireland's renewable energy commitments could add €200 million a year to the cost of electricity.
Throughout Europe, the ageing energy system requires updating, both in terms of generation and infrastructure. Europe is dependent on imported energy – at a cost of more than €400 billion annually. Ireland is even more dependent on imported energy on which it spends €6.5 billion a year – and while coal might be cheap now, the world coal price can rise and then Irish coal power will be much more expensive. Such developments are beyond Ireland’s control, unlike in the case of domestically sourced renewables.
The renewable energy directive adopted by the EU in 2009 set binding targets for renewable energy to be reached by 2020. These targets can be reached by increasing the share of energy from renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydroelectric and tidal power, geothermal energy and biomass. The targets aim at diversifying the EU’s energy supply by reducing the dependence on oil and gas; and reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Ireland’s target for 2020 is to ensure that 16 per cent of its energy demand will come from renewable energy sources. The share of renewable energy reached 7.2 per cent of energy consumption in 2012. While there is still some way to go, projections indicate that Ireland is on the right path to achieving its 2020 target, provided that investments come on stream as projected in the Irish National Renewable Energy Plan.
As recently as October 23rd, EU leaders agreed a new policy framework to make the European Union’s economy and energy system more competitive, secure and sustainable to 2030. As part of this, it confirmed the importance of increasing the share of renewable energy, setting a target of at least 27 per cent for renewable energy by 2030 to be delivered by the 28 member states in a joint effort. This will help ensure regulatory certainty for investors and a co-ordinated approach among member states. As is the case for the 2020 targets, member states have flexibility to choose the technologies to promote in their own territories.
With greater overall system flexibility coming on stream, including through better grids, improved grid management, enhanced demand response and management, there will not be a need for one-to-one backup gas plants as cited in your article. – Yours, etc,
BARBARA NOLAN,
Head of the
European Commission
Representation in Ireland,
Dawson Street, Dublin 2.