Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2023
71. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the implementation of RED II criteria will be taken into consideration during the EU ETS emissions accounting process in 2023. [8967/23]
View answer72. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications given that under RED II, sustainability certificates are required for a business's biomass supply in order for the emissions to be considered carbon neutral, the action that is being taken to assist businesses that have to date not received certificates due to delays in the system; and the significant body of work required to implement all processes within the biomass supply chain to ensure robust compliance. [8968/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, requires certain economic operators to show that the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria laid down in Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II have been fulfilled. This requirement shall apply to installations producing electricity, heating and cooling, or fuels with a total rated thermal input equal to or exceeding 20 MW in the case of solid biomass fuels, and with a total rated thermal input equal to or exceeding 2 MW in the case of gaseous biomass fuels. The sustainability criteria are defined in RED II and were transposed into Irish legislation in July 2022 by S.I. 350 of 2022.
The Sustainability Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have established and resourced a dedicated unit to implement a verification procedure to ensure that the relevant criteria laid down in RED II have been fulfilled. The SEAI will shortly be contacting these economic operators to advise them of their obligations under S.I. 350 of 2022 and the actions they need to take to ensure their biomass fuel meets the sustainability criteria.
With regard to the EU ETS, the emission factor for biomass is zero and no allowances for biomass emissions have to be surrendered where the sustainability and greenhouse gas savings criteria of the RED are met.
At this point in time, unless a voluntary national scheme is available through the relevant Irish legislation or by the EU Commission, the only method currently available to Irish EU ETS Operators to demonstrate compliance is by using a voluntary national (from other Member States) or international scheme recognised by the Commission. In December 2022 all Irish EU ETS operators were advised of these requirements.
