Green Party Senator Mark Dearey has welcomed new regulations to control recreational activities in sensitive nature areas like along the River Boyle, in the Baltray Boyne estuary area and on Bettystown and Laytown sand dunes.
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Minister Ryan launches new price support for offshore wind
“I have long said that Ireland can be a world leader in sustainable energy”, said Minister Ryan as he completed the launch of a package enhancing the public financial support system for renewable electricity generation. “Ireland needs to reduce our fossil fuel import bill and our dependence on imported energy sources. Renewable electricity is a critical cornerstone of Ireland’s approach to moving towards a low-carbon and robust economy”.
“Ireland has one of the finest renewable energy resource potentials in the world. Today we are making important steps to ensure that it is tapped”.
The renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme (REFIT), administered by the Minister’s Department, and supported by Sustainable Energy Ireland, delivers the requisite stability for project developers to secure financing. The Scheme will provide incentives and encouragement for individuals and businesses wishing to invest in or develop power from renewable sources. It does this by providing a guaranteed price for electricity produced by new plants for 15 years.
Today, Minister Ryan announced the latest change to the REFIT scheme, which will support the development of offshore wind-power projects at a price of €140 per megawatt hour of power produced.
“The support price is in line with what other countries are offering and without it we would not be able to attract any investment into Ireland. Now, investors can be confident when they invest in offshore wind.
In order to further assist the offshore industry, my department is working on a proposal with colleagues from Scotland Northern Ireland and Wales on the feasibility of building new sub-sea transmission links along the Irish sea This could be part of a new extended European off-shore grid connecting wind farms from other jurisdictions so that electricity will be produced on a consistent and predictable basis. If we can connect and integrate wind farms from other jurisdictions, electricity will be produced wherever the wind is blowing.
Offshore wind projects and investors will reap the benefits of the guaranteed price and further connection with Europe. Projects of real scale can be developed.
Ultimately, this will benefit the electricity consumer and the nation as we move towards a low-carbon and strong economy. Today’s move will help us meet our climate change and renewable energy targets”