Vol. 426 No. 6
141 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will pursue the question of research into the greater usage of wind and hydropowered electricity generation as part of future policy in view of the obvious benefits for our balance of trade; if there has been any cost-benefit analysis of the different forms of electricity production; and, if so, if he will make these figures available.
Hydro and wind power are the renewable energy sources which offer the greatest potential for electricity production in Ireland. Hydro-electric technology can be regarded as being fully commercialised while the technical feasibility of harnessing wind power has now being firmly established. Hydro power now accounts for 5 per cent of total electricity production or approximately 746 Gigawatt hours per annum and there has been a significant increase in recent years in the contribution from private hydro producers.
In the case of wind power, the Deputy will be aware that construction of Ireland's first wind farm at Bellacorick, County Mayo, with an installed capacity of 6.45 megawatts was completed in October 1992 and the technical and financial performance of this installation will determine to some extent further developments in this area. I will continue to encourage the greater utilisation of both these resources in the context of our overall energy requirement.
With regard to different forms of electricity production relative to their cost, my objective is to ensure that Irish electricity prices are as low as possible after taking account of the need for a diversified supply of fuel. The ESB continues to monitor the relative costs of electricity from various fuels and this forms a major part of its decisions in relation to the type of fuel to be used whenever new generating capacity must be constructed. Details of the relative cost of the ESB's existing fuels are clearly shown in the ESB's comprehensive annual report.
