Public consultation on scoping report for the Environmental Assessment of the emerging Draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy

The Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030, made provision for the establishment of a regulatory framework to facilitate the exploration for, and development of, geothermal energy resources.

The Programme for Government, 'Our Shared Future', commits to supporting the development of district heating. Geothermal energy has the potential to be an energy source for district heating, evidenced by the report 'An Assessment of Geothermal Energy for District Heating in Ireland' published by the Geological Survey Ireland in November 2020.

Geothermal energy resources have been proven to be secure, consistent, environmentally sustainable, effectively carbon-neutral and cost-effective. Geothermal energy can play an important role in decarbonising Ireland's heat and energy sectors.

We published 'Geothermal Energy in Ireland - A Roadmap for a Policy and Regulatory Framework'. As part of that roadmap, a draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy will be published in December. The Policy Statement will set out:

• An explanation of how geothermal energy can be harnessed
• The different types of geothermal energy projects
• Environmental considerations
• An outline regulatory framework for geothermal energy projects

Strategic Environmental Assessment

As part of the policy development process, the emerging draft Policy Statement was screened for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) under the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (as amended). It was determined that SEA is required for the emerging Draft Policy Statement. The SEA Screening Determination and SEA Screening Report are below.

SEA Screening Determination for emerging draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy

SEA Screening Report for emerging draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy

We have engaged external consultants to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the likely significant effects on the environment of the emerging draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy.

The next stage in the SEA process is Scoping for the Environment Report, which involves determining the scope, level of detail and range of environmental issues to be covered by the SEA. An SEA Scoping Report has been prepared by the consultants for consultation with the environmental authorities, as required by law. Submissions on the Scoping Report are also being sought from the wider public.

Consultation questions:

1. Based on the plans, policies and programmes outlined in the Scoping Report, are there any other key relevant international, national, or regional plans, policies or programmes that should be considered in the SEA Environmental Report on the Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy?

2. Are there any effects or impacts that should be considered in the SEA Environmental Report on the draft Policy Statement, which haven't been outlined in the Scoping Report?

3. Do you have any comments regarding the draft SEA Objectives, as presented in the Scoping Report?

4. Do you have any suggestions or comments in relation to the overall approach to alternatives, as presented in the Scoping Report?

Scoping Report for the Environmental Assessment of the emerging Draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy

All submissions are welcome and will be considered in finalising the Policy Statement.

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm 22 November 2021

Submissions should be marked Consultation on Geothermal Energy SEA Scoping and sent by email to [email protected] or by post to:

Geoscience Policy Division

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

29-31 Adelaide Road

Dublin, D02 X285

Ireland

Due to current working arrangements associated with COVID-19, if you are unable to access the documents below and require inspection at DECC offices, please write or email us using the details above.

Data Protection

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final version of the Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy is published.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that we intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on our website. Please indicate in your response whether you are submitting a response in a personal capacity or on behalf of an organisation. We will redact personal data prior to publication. There will be no redaction of contact information or names in submissions from an organisation. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.