Austin Deasy
Ceist:37 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department is pursuing plans to proceed with wind farming for the generating of electricity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14907/97]
Written Answers. - Wind Farming.
In March 1995, the results of my Department's first alternative energy requirement competition (AER I) were announced. This competition was designed to secure 75 mw of additional electricity generation capacity from alternative energy sources. In total the competition resulted in 34 contract offers amounting to 111 mw of capacity, including ten contracts for an additional wind energy capacity of 73 megawatts. I can confirm that seven of the AER I windfarms, amounting to 46 mw, are on line to be completed before the end of the year.
My Department's renewable energy strategy sets targets for the securing of additional renewable energy capacity up to the year 2010. The strategy includes an annual target of 30 mw per annum for wind energy. The third alternative energy requirement competition which is currently under way, was launched to secure the strategy targets set for the period up to the end of 1999. AER III aims to secure a total of 100 mw from wind, hydro and biomass/waste. The competition recognises that Ireland's greatest renewable energy potential is in the area of wind energy and aims to secure the majority of this capacity, 90 mw, from wind.
I expect to be in a position to announce the successful bidders in early 1998.
At EU level the THERMIE programme provides financial support for energy demonstration projects, including wind. All successful Irish renewable energy THERMIE projects qualify for an ESB power purchase agreement of up to 15 years duration. The first THERMIE supported Irish windfarm was commissioned in Gweedore in County Donegal earlier this year.
The Irish wind energy sector is expanding rapidly. In 1994, there was one windfarm in Ireland with an installed capacity of 6.45 mw. As a result of both AER and THERMIE programmes this will have increased to approximately ten windfarms and an installed capacity of 60 mw by the end of 1997. In addition, this figure is set to increase to approximately 170 mw by the year 2000.