asked the Minister for Energy if his Department will consider erecting a wind powered turbine in the Cooley mountains in north County Louth as part of the alternative energy source programme.
Written Answers. - Wind Powered Turbine Generator.
60.
Apart from programmes being carried out by organisations such as the ESB and An Foras Talúntais, my Department have a wind powered turbine programme in operation at selected locations. This programme is being funded by my Department and the EC Commission. The purpose of the programme is to investigate the potential for this technology in Irish weather conditions; to maximise the efficiency of wind turbines by intensive supervision and modifications where necessary and to establish by detailed electronic monitoring the econmics and reliability of these machines. In addition my Department have agreed to make a contribution towards the cost of installing a wind turbine on Cape Clear Island. Its cost will mainly be funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and the EC.
I am satisfied that these installations will be sufficient to evaluate wind turbine technology in Ireland and that the erection of further machines by my Department would not be appropriate at this time. It is planned to continue the current programmes for some years, after which the situation will be reviewed in the light of programme results.