Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 8

Written Answers. - Electricity Generation Projects.

Ivor Callely

Question:

75 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the studies or pilot projects being carried out into the generation of electricity by wind or wave action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Cowen)

Both wind and wave energy are currently the subject of studies and pilot projects for the purposes of electricity generation. In the case of wind, for example, University College Dublin in co-operation with the ESB and Arigna Fuels Ltd. is carrying out a study to access the wind resource potential at a number of locations around the country. The ESB has also made an application for funding under the EC ALTENER programme for a study to determine the optimum locations for the connection to the national grid of additional generation capacity from alternative energy sources including wind energy.

Ongoing studies into wave energy are being undertaken by the Hydraulic and Maritime Research Laboratory at University College Cork, in particular, and it also participates in specific pilot projects at a European level.

Wave energy is still at a relatively early stage of development when compared to other technologies such as wind energy which is acknowledged to be close to commercial maturity. It is these latter technologies which are being supported under the Government's 75MW alternative energy requirements, details of which will be announced shortly.