Wind farms under ‘serious threat’ from grid problem
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has extended a moratorium on connections for another three months following a request from ESB National Grid to permit outstanding technical issues to be resolved.
But the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, which met with CER at the weekend, said the decision was too cautious and was taken with extreme haste.
Rural Development Committee chairman Tommy Cooke called for an end to the standstill and for measures to improve the integrity and stability of the national grid. He said the moratorium poses a serious threat to the many wind farm projects in Ireland.
Mr Cooke said the CER has to explain why necessary work has not been carried out on the national grid to accommodate the developing wind sector.
Ireland is obliged to provide 13% of the electricity from renewable sources by 2010 under an EU directive, but Mr Cooke said the ESB National Grid did not plan adequately to meet the directive’s requirements.
If the moratorium continues beyond March 31, the consequences for Ireland’s fledgling wind energy sector will be disastrous, he said.
CER said it was reluctant to approve an extension to the moratorium and is keen to see the underlying issues resolved. However, on the basis that the period will be utilised to address the issues, it had decided to approve an extension of the moratorium until March 31.
The move was criticised by Meitheal na Gaoithe, a group representing small scale wind farm developers.
It called on Energy Minister Dermot Ahern to ensure that the E4 million investment in planning and project development that Meitheal members have made on the basis of Government policy is secured.
