Minister for Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan has predicted that Ireland may be able to go “further, faster and bigger” in meeting and exceeding targets for emission reduction and renewable energy.
As The Times Ireland edition reports, Ryan told the Wind Energy Ireland annual conference that reductions in emissions in 2020 represented a “real achievement”.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that emissions from Irish power generation and major industrial companies fell by 6.4 per cent last year to their lowest level since the EU emissions trading system was introduced over 15 years ago.
Ryan welcomed the EPA recording of an 8.4 per cent drop in power generation emissions – attributed to the influence of renewable energy.
He noted that Ireland had set a 40 per cent target for renewables last year, and had actually met 43 per cent.
Referring to the 50 per cent reduction in emissions, and 70 per cent renewable energy by the end of this decade, Ryan said “I think we might be able to break through that....”
Development of offshore power would be a key part of this next stage, Ryan said.
Seven projects which already have consent would proceed, and auctions would then be held next year for new projects which come under the new marine area consent system, he said.
The new Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Bill – formerly titled the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill – is one of the Government’s “top three” priority pieces of legislation, Ryan said.
He said it would provide for a “ steady predictable phased routine process” of licensing and approving offshore wind.
A new national marine planning framework – equivalent to a marine version of the national spatial plan – is also due to be put on a statutory footing shortly.
A senior civil servant warned that the State needs to take a more “holistic” approach to managing offshore renewable to “learn from some of the things that happened onshore”.
Martina Hennessy, who is the principal officer with responsibility for offshore energy in Ryan’s department, said that “communication” was key, along with engagement with sectoral groups..
Ms Hennessy and Conor McCabe, principal officer with responsibility for marine planning in the housing department, said there would be a “use it or lose it” approach to marine area consents.
Measures would be taken to ensure there was no “hoarding” of consent areas, they said.
Read The Times here