State faces €7m fine for lack of action on renewables

The Government risks a €7m-a-month fine because it is more than three years late bringing EU renewable energy rules into Irish law.

The country is a front runner in the use of renewable energy, with more than 7% of energy coming from renewables in 2012, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority, and on the way to achieving its 16% target by 2020.

However, despite several warnings to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the legislation has still not been finalised.

The European Commission said the 10% target includes renewables in transport, streamlining administrative procedures, management of grid access for electricity from renewable sources, and criteria for biofuels and bioliquids.

“These are priorities for the commission,” the statement announcing the legal action said, adding that “Ireland has already adopted a considerable amount of legislation required by the directive”.

The EU will ask the European court to impose a daily penalty of €25,447 a day for each day after a judgement is given against Ireland until the work has been completed — the final penalty would be decided by the court.

A statement from the Government said it is working on the final elements and hope to have it finalised in the next few weeks, before the case goes to court.

The threat of court comes a day after the Commission announced its proposed new targets for climate and energy for 2030, which would increase the overall share of sustainable energy for the EU to 27%, with each country to decide on its own target.

Brian Motherway, head of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, said the new goals reinforce the case for continuing investment in renewable energy capacity.

“Ireland has a considerable comparative advantage in terms of the renewable energy resource available to us and we are already making great inroads in its use,” said Dr Motherway. “Our analysis shows that renewable energy in Ireland in 2012 reduced our emissions of CO2 by 2m tonnes. This is being done without raising electricity prices,”