Wind won’t blow on demand

JAMES McGRATH’S claim that wind power is “incredibly effective” (Letters, October 8) is totally wrong.

While he is correct in saying wind is in “infinite supply”, he ignores the fact that it does not blow on demand.

Average wind turbine output is only about 25% of capacity and most of this is useless because it is produced at times of low demand and electricity cannot be stored.

Even when power is produced at peak demand, it is worthless because all potential wind power, given its unreliability, must be fully backed up by conventional power plants permanently fired up and belching out CO2.

Consequently, there is no saving on fossil fuels, no reduction in harmful emissions and the combined carbon footprint is much worse than before.

Wind energy can indeed be useful for certain projects which can use the power whenever it’s produced, such as pumped storage of water for later hydro power generation or producing hydrogen from water.

But dumping wind energy onto the national grid is worse than useless. It’s volatility only disrupts the grid balance.

However, the real scandal is that the wind industry has persuaded the Government to oblige the ESB to purchase wind farm output.

The ESB’s 2006 annual report states that “these contracts have a combined value of €2.5 billion in today’s money”.

This must be paid by ordinary consumers. In terms of Government waste of our money, this puts the e-voting and PPARS debacles firmly in the shade.

Dick Keane

35 Silchester Park

Glenageary

Co Dublin