Wind farmers connect to grid

THE ban on connecting windfarms to the national power network is set to be lifted after the energy regulator issued new guidelines over the weekend.

Commissioner for Energy Regulation Tom Reeves said the ban should be ended and ordered the ESB agencies responsible for the power network to resume processing of applications from windfarm developers for connection to the national grid.

The ban came into force last December after ESB National Grid, which operates the country’s network of power lines, said windfarm operators needed to meet strict technical standards before they could be connected to the network. Failure to do so could disrupt the national power supply and lead to US-style blackouts, the grid operator said.