Wind farms ‘must meet higher standards’

IRISH wind farms need to meet higher technical standards before the ban on connections to the power network can be lifted, the national grid operator said yesterday.

Managing director Kieran O’Brien said the increasing number of wind farms posed a risk to the stability of the national electricity transmission system, if strict performance standards were not met. ESB National Grid, which is due to be renamed Eirgrid shortly, recently asked energy regulator Tom Reeves to suspend connections for wind generators to the grid.

The temporary ban came into effect earlier this month. The use of wind generators has grown substantially since 1995 and now produces 165 megawatts, which is enough to supply almost 170,000 homes.

Wind generators have been awarded contracts to produce over 700 megawatts, or 13% of Ireland’s current generating capacity. At present, wind accounts for approximately 3% of total supply.

Mr O’Brien said the low reliance on wind power to date meant it was unnecessary to impose strict technical standards.

As more windfarms were added to the network, the potential for disruption increased, he said.

“Now that definitive plans are in place to significantly and rapidly increase the proportion of wind generation on the system, a number of complex technical issues relating to wind generation must be resolved,” said Mr O’Brien.

Wind, by its nature, shows a higher level of variability of supply than traditional oil- or gas-powered stations. If a wind farm goes through a period of low winds, it will generate less power, while excessively high winds can also be unsuitable.

A recent report commissioned by energy regulators on both sides of the Border said measures to curtail wind generation at certain times would be needed by 2005, in order to prevent US-style blackouts caused by overloading the transmission networks on the island.

ESB National Grid said it still fully supported the use of wind and other renewable energy sources, but its primary concern was maintaining a secure and reliable power network.

It also said Ireland’s projected use of wind energy would exceed the state’s obligations under the Kyoto Treaty, which aims to limit the use of so-called greenhouse gases and force a shift towards renewable energy sources.

The Irish Wind Energy Association, which represents wind farm operators, said the decision to close the network to new wind energy generators was an over-reaction.

Tim Cowhig, IWEA chairman, called on the power authorities to re-open the network on a case-by-case basis as soon as possible.