Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2004
39 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the Government’s policy with regard to the promotion of wood as a viable alternative energy source following recently published studies by Sustainable Energy Ireland; his views on the opinion that it would replace overdependence on imported fossil fuels while creating sustainable rural jobs, in addition to its primary purpose of reducing CO2 emissions. [25757/04]
View answerDevelopment of biomass energy and, in particular, the promotion of wood as an alternative energy source, offers potential to reduce CO2 emissions, enhance security of supply and create regional employment. Ireland has an excellent growing climate and an ongoing supply of raw material for wood fuel. Wood residues are already being used to produce heat for sawmills across the country and the wood energy market is poised for growth, with a number of commercial start-ups and a supply chain emerging. Wood residues can be broken down into four categories: pulpwood residues, sawmill residues, forest residues and recycled wood. The wood for energy sector divides into direct biomass — the trees themselves; indirect biomass — processing by-products and residues; and post consumer recovered wood. There is good potential for the development of production of energy from biomass in Ireland.
I am aware that growth in the Irish forestry sector has created a strong supply of wood and wood residues into the coming decades, for which there is finite demand in existing markets. This represents a particular opportunity for bioenergy development based on wood products.
My Department, in association with Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, set up a bioenergy strategy group, BSG, in December 2003. The primary objective of the group is to consider the policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion, and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the penetration of biomass energy in Ireland. The BSG will produce a report on its findings shortly and this will contain a road map for the development of biomass energy, including wood energy, with the identification of staged, achievable targets and recommendations for future action.
