EirGrid publishes comprehensive and regularly updated lists of connected wind farms and contracted wind farms throughout the country on its website at:
http://www.eirgrid.com/customers/connectedandcontractedgenerators/
As of 12 January 2010, there was 1260MW of installed wind capacity on the system and as of 25 November 2009, there was a further 1415MW of wind projects contracted to connect.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and EirGrid have calculated that around 5,800 megawatts (MWs) of renewable capacity will be required to deliver the 40% target in 2020.
The CER decision on the ‘Gate 3' round provides for connection offers for 4,000 MW of additional renewable electricity capacity. Approximately 90% of these offers are wind powered capacity including around 800 MW of offshore wind. The list of projects included in the Gate 3 decision can be found in the CER Decision 08/260, which can be found on its website at: www.cer.ie. Gate 3 connection offers began to issue in December 2009 and rollout of the offers will continue on a phased basis over the next 18 months.
The decision by CER on Gate 3 projects is potentially capable of delivering the 40% national target for the contribution from renewable energy resources to electricity consumed by 2020. In the event of any non take-up of the Gate 3 offers, the CER would intend to add replacement projects, to ensure delivery of the 2020 target.