€51m subsidies for renewable energy sector

Wind and renewable energies make up just 10% of the approximate €210m in subsidies that domestic and commercial electricity customers are forced to pay in their electricity bills to support power plants in this country.

Anti-wind campaigners repeatedly complained that the sector is too heavily subsidised and that the drive towards wind energy should stop, as it pushes up the price of electricity.

Plants using fossil fuels such as peat and gas receive the lion’s share of the subsidy, according to Commission for Energy Regulation. The Tynagh energy plant in Galway which produces energy from natural gas and oil and Aughinish Alumina’s combined heat and power plant in Co Limerick were to receive over €48m in PSO subsidies between this year and last. The 100MW Lough Ree Peat Station in Lanesboro, Co Roscommon was to get €32m; the 150MW peat-powered plant at Shannonbridge, West Offaly €30.4m; and another €12m was to go to the Edenderry Power Plant mostly powered by peat.