Move from fossil fuels will hike energy costs for consumers
Speaking at the launch of the Government’s policy paper on energy, he was asked whether the move to renewable sources of energy would cost more for customers.
“There is a cost to transition but our hope would be to minimise that cost. While that cost exists there is also a tremendous opportunity and huge potential here,” said Mr White.
Ireland will use no fossil fuels by the end of the century, according to the paper.
The paper is high on aspiration but is light on detail although the minister said that the policy builds on the ambition of the Paris Agreement on global climate change formally ratified last weekend.
There was no definite view expressed on nuclear power, or on fracking, which has been a very contentious issue.
Mr White said he would await the outcome of an evaluation being conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency before making any decision on extraction by fracking.
Similarly, on nuclear energy, Mr White said he would await the outcome of an evaluation, although he expressed doubt if Ireland was large enough to accommodate a nuclear power station.
The paper refers to the 2020 target of 50,000 electric vehicles but Mr White said the take-up of electric cars has been disappointing so far, at 700 in all.
He accepted there was no chance that target would be reached.
He said few countries had met their target and also pointed to the chilling effect of the recession in this area, adding that the recession was to blame for the lack of resources available to retrofit homes.
There is no date set down for the decommissioning of fossil fuels used in Moneypoint, a coal-burning plant that is the largest power station in the country.
Mr White said Ireland was still dependent on fossil fuels which provide 92% of the energy share for the country.
He said that by 2050 the share of non-carbon and renewable sources would be 80% to 95%.
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