Bioenergy Implementation Plan - South-East Regional Authority

FOREWORD
Energy policy has become increasingly important in today’s society and ensuring security
of sustainable and competitive energy supplies and reducing harmful greenhouse gas
emission levels are to the forefront of the political agenda. The location and use of
alternative energy sources are paramount to the sustainability of national, regional
and local development and competitiveness. Government has stressed the importance
of energy policy in view of the crucial role that energy plays in fuelling our growing
economy, its key relevance to the management and protection of our environment and
our response to climate change.
It is against this background that the South-East Regional Authority, in cooperation with Sustainable Energy Ireland and
a wide range of local stakeholders in the Region, embarked upon the development of a Bioenergy Implementation
Plan for the South-East Region. Recognising the challenges ahead, the key focus of the Plan is to analyse the scope and
potential for bioenergy development in the Region, to identify and reduce barriers to the development of the sector and
to harmonise the planning requirements for bioenergy development across the Region. The key objective of the Plan is
to make the South-East a leader in the development of bioenergy in Ireland.
The Plan sets out ambitious targets for bioenergy consumption within the Region for 2010 and 2020 to complement the
national targets. These targets aim to increase the contribution of bioenergy towards meeting the future total energy
requirements of the Region. By achieving the targets set out in the Plan the South-East will become more self-sufficient
in securing its energy supply, the Region will reduce its reliance on finite fossil fuels and will benefit from reduced
carbon emissions, and in doing so, will create employment opportunities and support regional development. Moreover,
the Plan will constitute a framework for the development of bioenergy and a reference document for local and public
authorities and private sector interests.
I wish to acknowledge the support and cooperation received by the Regional Authority in this important process
from all involved. In particular, I wish to express thanks and appreciation to Sustainable Energy Ireland, Teagasc, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the local authorities and the local energy agencies in the Region, the members of the
steering committee and to the consultants who provided technical assistance, Fehily Timoney Rambøll. I also wish to
thank the Director and staff of the Regional Authority for their work in bringing this project to a successful conclusion.
This Plan is but the beginning of a process and I acknowledge that further work is required in order to ensure that
the objectives and actions contained in it are realised. The Regional Authority is committed to coordinating the
implementation of the Plan in association with all the key stakeholders in the Region and I look forward to working
with all of these in a spirit of cooperation and partnership for the future development of bioenergy in the South-East.
Cllr. Paddy O’Callaghan
Cathaoirleach
October 2007
ii
south-east regional authority
údarás réigiúnach an Oir-DheisCIrt