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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 4

Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

352 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the emergency measures which are in place within his Department to deal with a major blackout in the electricity grid in view of the recent major blackouts in the US and Italy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22340/03]

Major electricity blackouts are usually the result of a number of contingencies. These contingencies include generation shortages, transmission network failures or other operational difficulties. While no electricity power system can be fully protected from such events I am satisfied that measures are in place to reduce the risk of a major blackout occurring on the Irish power system.

In the event of an emergency situation, the transmission system operator, as part of its licence conditions, has in place a number of specific emergency plans which can deal with the incident quickly and effectively. Procedures for activation and implementation of the plans, as well as communication procedures, are tested and reviewed at regular intervals.

The plans include a power system restoration plan, the objective of which is to restore a continuous supply of electricity, as quickly and as safely as possible in the event of a total system blackout. Implementation of the plan is at the discretion and under the control of the transmission system operator.

The power system capacity shortfall plan, which will be put into operation in the event of a shortage of generation capacity, is designed to match supply to demand by shedding the minimum load necessary to ensure that the power system remains in a stable operating mode at all times. Supply to specific priority users such as hospitals are given priority in the load shedding plan. In addition, the business continuity plan ensures that the transmission system operator's main business processes can be maintained in the event of an evacuation of its main offices.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

353 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of applications there are in each county for wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22341/03]

The number of wind energy applications received under the recent sixth alternative energy requirement competition is outlined on a county-by-county basis in the following table. There were also eight offshore wind energy applications.

Further details of the individual applications is available from my Department's website at www.dcmnr.ie/energy The competitive selection process is a national one and takes no account of county boundaries. Project locations tend to be largely based on wind regimes, transmission grid availability and planning constraints.

County

Number of applicationsLarge scale wind category

Number of applicationsSmall scale wind category

Total

Carlow

0

1

1

Cavan

5

3

8

Clare

3

0

3

Cork

6

11

17

Dublin

0

0

0

Donegal

8

8

16

Galway

3

1

4

Kildare

0

0

0

Kilkenny

0

0

0

Kerry

8

5

13

Laois

0

0

0

Leitrim

1

1

2

Limerick

7

3

10

Longford

0

0

0

Louth

0

1

1

Mayo

1

7

8

Monaghan

0

0

0

Meath

0

1

1

Offaly

0

1

1

Roscommon

1

1

2

Sligo

2

1

3

Tipperary

1

9

10

Waterford

0

1

1

Westmeath

0

0

0

Wexford

2

8

10

Wicklow

0

2

2

Total

113

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