A bioenergy conference being held in Dublin today is calling for the introduction of a renewable heat incentive to speed up the switch to bioenergy.
The 15th annual BioEnergy Conference of the all-island BioEnergy Association said that introducing the RHI is critical to the development of the bioenergy sector in Ireland and its potential to double in size and create 3000 new jobs.
New IrBEA President Michael Doran said: “The bioenergy sector sits at the intersection of energy, agriculture and climate change policies.
“We need to accelerate the switch to renewable sources of power right across our economy, in electricity, in transport and in heating.
The theme of the conference is ‘unleashing Ireland’s bioenergy potential’ and Doran spoke about the specific requirement s of the RHI scheme.
He said: “The BioEnergy Association is seeking a renewable heat incentive for businesses switching to bioenergy for their heating needs of €0.076 per kWh falling to €0.002 per kWh above 1MW. This level of incentive will capture the value of public services being delivered by the bioenergy sector.
“The IrBEA will be seeking an early engagement with the new Energy Minister following the General Election in ROI on the introduction of the renewable heat incentive this year.”
Image: (Weltec biopower)
