Renewable Energy Resource: Ireland to 2010 and 2020

Name of Contractors:  ESB International, Future Energy Solutions, Energy Research Group ( UCD)
Grant Award:  €148,769
Category:  Public Good
Completion Date:  September 2004
Download Report:  Renewable Energy Resources in Ireland for 2010 and 2020
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Appendix 6
Appendix 7

Introduction

This study was commissioned to help inform the Government in formulating its future policies on renewable energy in parallel with consideration of the response to the Consultation Document issued by the Department of Communication, Marine and Natural Resources “Options for future Renewable Energy Policy, Targets and Programmes”.  The study is intended to update and extend the methodology used in earlier studies for estimating the renewable energy resource and costs in Ireland, with a view to providing medium term development potential which could be used to underpin formulation of potential targets for future policy options in the deployment of renewable.  It is also intended that the methodology developed should form a consistent mechanism for future separate studies in the electricity and heat markets utilising renewable energy technologies not included in this study.

Key outputs from the project will include:

• An extended methodology for estimating the renewable energy resource to provide a medium term development potential for the years 2010 and 2020 including the likely resource/cost curve.
• Development of a ‘selling price’ allowing for project financing and an adequate return to the developer, from the production costs per unit of energy derived in the resource analysis.
• Application of the methodology and comparison of resulting estimates of resource against historical figures for onshore wind.
• Application of the methodology to landfill gas (electrical market) and active solar thermal for the space and water heating (heat market).
• Application of a scenario approach to identify potential market contributions under basic, maximum and minimum contributions that reflect a continuation of current policies, a relatively slower growth rate and an accelerated scenario that would provide the highest reasonable levels of penetration for renewables by 2010 and 2020.

Current Status

The final report is currently in draft format and is expected to be formally published by November 2004.

For further information contact:

Godfrey Bevan
Sustainable Energy Ireland
Glasnevin
Dublin 9

Tel:  01 808 2091
E-mail:  Godfrey.bevan@sei.ie