Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 October 2014
193. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 473 of 2 November 2010, the latest figures by county, based on the new Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland wind atlas, together with the percentage change in the annual mean wind speed between the current SEAI wind atlas and the new one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37297/14]
View answer194. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the values of the mean power density of the wind at 50 m, 75 m, 100 m and 125 m above ground at Oweninny and Cluddaun, County Mayo, based on the data in both the current, and the new, Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland wind atlas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37298/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has advised that it has a Wind Atlas for Ireland available on its website which displays wind speed maps. The wind speeds are available by location point within each county.
I am advised that average wind speeds per county have no practical application in planning for wind energy projects. I am also advised that the SEAI has not, to date, derived speeds on a county by county basis for the 2013 SEAI wind atlas, but is considering the potential benefits and costs of a future project of this nature.
Set out below are the average annual windspeeds, obtained from the SEAI, for the proposed locations of the Oweninny and Cluddaun wind farm sites at hub heights of 50m, 75m, 100m and 125m, for both the 2003, and the newer 2013, SEAI wind atlases. The speeds are set out in metres per second, m/s.
2003 SEAI Wind Atlas
Oweninny: 50m: 8.3m/s 75m: 8.8m/s 100m: 9.1m/s 125m: not available for 2003 wind atlas
Cluddaun: 50m: 7.9m/s 75m: 8.7m/s 100m: 9.2m/s 125m: not available for 2003 wind atlas
New (2013) SEAI wind atlas
Oweninny: 50m: 6.3m/s 75m: 7.1m/s 100m: 7.7m/s 125m: 8.1m/s
Cluddaun: 50m: 7.3m/s 75m: 8m/s 100m: 8.55m/s 125m: 9m/s
Neither the 2013 nor the 2003 wind atlases directly provide the wind energy density at particular locations. The SEAI is currently considering whether the allocation of time and resources to a project of this nature would be worthwhile.
