State stresses commitment to green energy as limit enforced

THE Government yesterday insisted it was committed to trebling Ireland’s green energy output by 2005 as outraged wind farm providers demanded the ESB National Grid reverse its decision to halt new power connections to the grid.

The energy regulator’s office said the short-term pause on wind connectors to the grid followed concerns about the stability and security of wind-powered systems.

The unprecedented emergency measure was approved by regulator Tom Reeves shortly before Minister for Communications and Natural Resources Dermot Ahern welcomed a Government decision to extend ESB relief for new AER (alternative energy requirements) projects.

A spokesman for the minister said: “The decision to temporarily limit new wind connections to the grid does not change Government policies. It remains committed to achieving 13% of green power by 2010, trebling its 2002 output of 2% by 2005”.

The amount of wind generation currently connected to the system and the number of planned developers holding signed connection deals has reached over 700MW, with a further 500MW currently within the process.

However, a report published earlier this year noted up to 2,000MW of wind power could be introduced before there was any need to consider curtailment measures.

Mr Reeves is planning to consult with the renewable industry and interested parties before the end of this month prior to taking any further decisions.

He said the commission was concerned that any future remedial measures are necessary and proportionate to the threat facing system reliability.

Although wind-powered electricity represented just 2% of total electricity generation, the ESB National Grid argued the risks to system reliability were such that they warrant an immediate ceasing of any further offers on wind connections before the end of the year.

However, the IFA’s national industrial committee chairman, Francis Fanning, claimed the regulator’s decision was a serious and unnecessary blow to the wind energy industry.

The IFA, he said, had written to Mr Reeves seeking an urgent meeting. “We are also demanding an independent assessment of the impact of wind farm connections on the grid and an immediate reversal of this decision.”

The Green Party’s Eamon Ryan claimed the decision could have disastrous consequences for the wind energy industry and the environment. “We need new inter-connectors to Britain and Europe to make sure we have markets for our renewable energy resources,” he said.