46% Increase in Wind Generated Electricity in 2006
Media Information
05 July 2007
Electricity generated from renewable sources increases 6.8% to 8.5%
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has today announced provisional figures recorded by its Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit (EPSSU) in advance of the publication of its forthcoming report: ‘Renewable Energy in Ireland -2007 Update’. The figures show continued growth in the amount of electricity that is generated from renewable sources. They also show that there has been a reduction in the amount of CO2 associated with the generation of the average unit of electricity (CO2 intensity of electricity generation) in Ireland in 2006.
The provisional figures revealed today show:
• The percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources reached 8.5% at the end of 2006. This is up from 6.8% in 2005.
• Electricity generated from wind grew by 46% in 2006.
• The CO2 intensity of electricity fell from 637 CO2 g/kWh in 2005 to 601 g/kWh in 2006, a 5.6% reduction.
The 2006 figure for the total percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources is made up of 5.6% from wind and 2.5% from hydro with the remainder coming from landfill gas, biomass, and biogas. The Government has a target for 15% of Ireland’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010 with a further target, from the recent White Paper on Energy, for 33% by 2020. Electricity demand in recent years has increased by an average of 4.9% per annum and the actual amount of renewable energy required to meet the targets will grow at the same rate. However, additional wind capacity of 449MW has already been contracted to come on line over the coming two years which means we are progressing well towards reaching the 15% target by 2010.
David Taylor, Chief Executive, SEI said; “While these are provisional figures they do bode exceptionally well for our ability to meet the ambitious targets outlined in the Government’s White Paper. With forecasted additional capacity in electricity generated from renewables already at levels which would allow us to meet the 2010 target, there is strong evidence to suggest that policy decisions made in relation to promoting the production and installation of renewable energy in recent years are beginning to bear fruit. “
The increased use of renewable sources of energy for electricity generation has, in turn, lowered the CO2 intensity of electricity from 637 CO2 g/kWh in 2005 to 601 g/kWh in 2006, a 5.6% reduction. A significant proportion of the reduction is attributable to the 46% increase in the amount of electricity generated from wind.
The EPSSU has published statistics on renewable energy in its ‘Renewable Energy in Ireland ‘ and ‘Energy in Ireland’ reports since its establishment in 2002. The reports examine, using the most recently available data, the contribution made by renewable energy to Ireland’s energy requirements over the period back to 1990. The purpose of the reports is to provide the most recent energy data and analysis to inform and support policymaker’s decisions.
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Editors Notes:
Based in Cork, the Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit is SEI’s specialist statistics team. Its core functions are to:
• collect, process and publish energy statistics to support policy analysis and development in line with national needs and international obligations;
• conduct statistical and economic analyses of energy services sectors and sustainable energy options;
• contribute to the development and promulgation of appropriate sustainability indicators.
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