Gone with the wind

EIRGRID chief executive Dermot Byrne claims the Government target to produce 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 can be surpassed by a target of 75% power generation from wind.

He also claims a milestone was reached last April when for a period 50% of electricity was generated from wind power.

These comments beggar belief and, from an engineering and scientific perspective, do not make sense as there is no technical or cost justification provided to merit such targets. These might be met for a short period provided the entire country is swathed in wind farms. Wind-derived power in Britain is by far the most expensive in comparison with coal, gas and nuclear power generation.