Wind power in Ireland: Difference between revisions
Windandsea (talk | contribs) →Current Issues: added grid connection timing |
Windandsea (talk | contribs) new proposed farms (Dublin array, skerd rocks), added type column (offshore/onshore), updated other entries in table. |
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! Wind Farm !! Scheduled !! |
! Wind Farm !! Scheduled !! Capacity (MW) !! Turbines !! Type !! Operator !! Location !! Type |
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! Codling <ref>[http://www.codlingwindpark.ie/]</ref> |
! [[Codling]] <ref>[http://www.codlingwindpark.ie/]</ref> |
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| Unknown || 1100 || 220 || Unknown || Codling Wind Farm || [[County Wicklow]] |
| Unknown || 1100 || 220 || Unknown || Codling Wind Farm || [[County Wicklow]] || Offshore |
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! Curragh <ref>[http://www.airtricity.com/wind_farms/republic_of_ireland/in_construction/curragh_1/ Airtricity page on Curragh]</ref> |
! Curragh <ref>[http://www.airtricity.com/wind_farms/republic_of_ireland/in_construction/curragh_1/ Airtricity page on Curragh]</ref> |
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| 2009 September || 18 || 8 || Siemens 2.3VS || [[Airtricity]] || [[County Cork]] |
| 2009 September || 18 || 8 || Siemens 2.3VS || [[Airtricity]] || [[County Cork]] || Onshore |
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! Dronada <ref>[http://www.airtricity.com/wind_farms/republic_of_ireland/in_construction/dromada/ Airtricity page on Dromada]</ref> |
! Dronada <ref>[http://www.airtricity.com/wind_farms/republic_of_ireland/in_construction/dromada/ Airtricity page on Dromada]</ref> |
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| 2010 March || 28.5 || 19 || GE 1.5 || [[Airtricity]] || [[County Limerick]] |
| 2010 March || 28.5 || 19 || GE 1.5 || [[Airtricity]] || [[County Limerick]] || Onshore |
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! [[Dublin Array]] <ref>[http://www.saorgus.com/projects/dublin_array.html Dublin Array Details]</ref> |
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| 2013 || 364 || 145||unknown || Saorgus <ref>[http://www.saorgus.com company site]</ref>|| [[County Dublin]] || Offshore |
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| 2009 Summer || 30 || 10 || VESTAS V90 || Clare Winds Ltd || [[County Clare]] || Onshore |
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! Knockastana <ref>[http://www.airtricity.com/ireland/wind_farms/republic_of_ireland/in_construction/knockastanna_1/ Airtricity page on Knockastana]</ref> |
! Knockastana <ref>[http://www.airtricity.com/ireland/wind_farms/republic_of_ireland/in_construction/knockastanna_1/ Airtricity page on Knockastana]</ref> |
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| 2010 March || 4 || 6 || GE 1.5 || [[Airtricity]] || [[County Limerick]] |
| 2010 March || 4 || 6 || GE 1.5 || [[Airtricity]] || [[County Limerick]] || Onshore |
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! Moneypoint <ref>[http://www.hibernianwindpower.ie/windfarms/moneypoint.htm Hibernian page on Moneypoint]</ref> |
! Moneypoint <ref>[http://www.hibernianwindpower.ie/windfarms/moneypoint.htm Hibernian page on Moneypoint]</ref> |
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| Unknown || 22.5 || 9 || Unknown || Hibernian Windpower || [[County Clare]] |
| Unknown || 22.5 || 9 || Unknown || Hibernian Windpower || [[County Clare]] || Onshore |
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! Oriel (Offshore) <ref>[http://www.orielwind.com Oriel website]</ref> |
! Oriel (Offshore) <ref>[http://www.orielwind.com Oriel website]</ref> |
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| 2013 || 330 || 55 || Unknown || Oriel Windfarm Ltd || [[County Louth]] |
| 2013 || 330 || 55 || Unknown || Oriel Windfarm Ltd || [[County Louth]] || Offshore |
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! Pallas |
! Pallas |
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| 2008 December || 40 || 20 || |
| 2008 December || 40 || 20 || Enercon E-70 2MW || Pallas Wind Farms Ltd || [[County Kerry]] || Onshore |
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! [[Skerd Rocks]] <ref>[http://www.fsteo.com/Non-Technical%20Summary.pdf Technical Details]</ref> |
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| Unknown || 100 || 20|| 5MW|| FST <ref>[http://www.fsteo.com company site]</ref>|| [[County Galway]] || Offshore |
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Revision as of 16:55, 19 January 2010
At the end of 2008, the Republic of Ireland had an installed wind power capacity of 1244.7 megawatts. This ranks Ireland 15th in the world in terms of megawatts installed. Recent years have seen seen a marked increase in the level of wind power generation, more than doubling from a total of 495.2 megawatts in 2005. In 2008 alone, the rate of growth was 54.6%, amongst the highest in the world.[1] On July 31, 2009, the output from the country's turbines peaked at 999 megawatts. During certain times that day, up to 39 percent of Ireland’s demand for electricity was met from wind.[2] On October 24, 2009, the output exceeded 1000 megawatts for the first time with a peak of 1064 MW.
Background
In the Directive[3] 2001/77/EC, otherwise known as the RES-E Directive, the European Union stated a goal to have 22% of the total energy consumed by member states to be produced from renewable energy resources by 2010. As a result the Republic of Ireland in a report titled “Policy Consideration for Renewable Electricity to 2010” made the commitment to have 4% of its total energy consumption come from renewable energy resources by 2002 and 13.2% by 2010. The Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR) founded the Renewable Energy Group (REG) which established the short term analysis group (STAG) to investigate a means of accomplishing this goal. To meet the 2010 target of 13.2%, 1,432 MW of electricity will need to be generated from renewable resources with 1,100 MW being generated from wind resources both on-shore and off-shore.
Current Issues
There are a few issues facing current development and deployment of wind energy.
Grid Connection Timing
Grid connection is currently awarded on a ‘first come, first connect’ basis through Gate 3
procedures. On examination of the Gate 3 queue, there are a number of large onshore and
offshore wind projects that are down the list and will, therefore, be offered grid connection
towards the end of the anticipated 18-month processing period commencing in December
2009.[4]
Planning Permission
Wind farms currently are given a planning permission that expires after five years. But, the application process for securing a connection to the grid is six years. Extensions to the planning permissions may be granted if a significant amount of work has been completed on the wind farm. However, there is no standard or minimum of accepted amount of work that needs to be completed to be granted an extension of the planning permission. This causes some developers to not begin work on a wind farm until a grid connection is guaranteed, which slows the process of fulfilling necessary development to meet the 2010 and future energy goals.
REFIT
The fourth issue regarding the generation of wind power is the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff, or REFIT. The purpose of REFIT is to encourage development of renewable energy resources. For wind power production, the current limit to the tariff is 1,450 MW. However, applications currently being processed for grid connections exceed the limit by almost 1,500 MW for a total for nearly 3,000 MW. Since the limit is 1,450 MW, many of the applications for grid connections may not eligible for the tariff.
Arklow Bank Wind Park
The Arklow Bank Wind Park, located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) off the coast of Arklow on the Arklow Bank in the Irish Sea, was Ireland’s first off-shore wind farm. The wind farm is owned and built by GE Energy and was co-developed by Airtricity and GE Energy. The site currently has 7 GE Energy 3.6 MW turbines that generate a total of 25 MW. The development of the site has been divided into two phases with the first phase being the first 7 turbines. The second phase, which is in current development, is a partnership between Airtricity and ACCIONA Energia. ACCIONA Energia has an option to buy the project after the facility is completed. The wind farm has current plans to expand the site to generate 520 MW of power.
Although the waters off the Atlantic coastline of Ireland is a better site for wind farms because of the available wind resources, sites along the eastern coastline such as Arklow were chosen for the first wind farms because of the shallower waters, which are 20m (65.62 ft.) or less.
Economic Impact
The European Union has estimated that the current cost for wind energy is 26 €c/kWh. Although this much higher than the 15 €c/kWh for fossil fuel generated energy, the SEI, Sustainable Energy Ireland, has said that “external costs” of fossil fuel generated electricity needs to be considered in the overall energy cost. These “external costs” include the harvesting, processing, use of fossil fuels; the disposal of waste, and the health problems caused by the pollution generated.
There has been some controversy surrounding the costs involved of the use wind farms to supply electricity. A report by the Commission for Energy Regulation and Northern Ireland titled “Impact of High Levels of Wind Penetration in 2020 on the Electricity Market” states that in order for savings from wind generated power to be significant, oil would have to reach $200 per barrel. The report goes on to say that wind power will need to be subsidized as long as oil is around $100 a barrel or less.
Completed onshore wind farms
This article is missing information about Error: you must specify what information is missing..(April 2009) |
Wind Farm | Completed | Grid Connection Capacity (MW) | Turbines | Type | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Altagowlan [5] | 2005 | 7.6 | 9 | Gamesa 850 | County Roscommon |
Anarget | 2006 | 1.2 | 2 | ENERCON E-40 | County Donegal |
Anarget Extension | 2007 | 0.9 | 1 | ENERCON E-44 | County Donegal |
Ballybane | 2008 | 30 | 13 | ENERCON E-70 2.3 MW | County Cork |
Ballywater | 2005 | 42 | 21 | ENERCON E-70 2MW | County Wexford |
Bindoo [6] | 2007 | 48 | 32 | GE 1.5MW | County Cavan |
Booltiagh [7] | 2005 | 19.5 | 13 | GE 1.5 | County Clare |
Carnsore [8] | 2002 | 11.9 | 14 | Vestas | County Wexford |
Coomacheo [9] | 2008 | 41.4 | 18 | Siemens 2.3VS | County Cork |
Coomatallin [10] | 2005 | 6 | 4 | GE 1.5SE | County Cork |
Cornacahan | 2007 | 2.55 | 3 | ENERCON E-44 | County Donegal |
Corneen [11] | 2001 | 3 | 2 | GE 1.5S | County Cavan |
Crockahenny [12] | 1998 | 5 | 10 | ENERCON E-40 5.40 | County Donegal |
Cronelea | 2007 | 6.9 | 3 | ENERCON E-70 2.3MW | County Wexford |
Cronelea Upper [13] | 2005 | 2.55 | 3 | Vestas V52 850 | County Wicklow |
Culliagh [14] | 2000 | 12 | 18 | Vestas V47 | County Donegal |
Derrybrien [15] | 2006 | 60 | 70 | Vestas V52 850 | County Galway |
Dundalk IT [16] | 2005 | 0.85 | 1 | Vestas V52 850 | County Louth |
Flughland [17] | 2009 | 9.2 | 4 | ENERCON E-70 2.3MW | County Donegal |
Gartnaneane [18] | 2004 | 15 | 10 | GE 1.5S | County Cavan |
Geevagh [19] | 2006 | 5 | 6 | Gamesa G52850 | County Sligo |
Glackmore | 2008 November | 2.3 | 1 | ENERCON E-70 2.3 MW | County Donegal |
Gneeves [20] | 2005 | 9.35 | 11 | Vestas V52 | County Cork |
Kilgarvan [21] | 2006 | 45 | 15 | Vestas V90 3MW | County Kerry |
Killybegs | 2007 | 13.8 | 6 | ENERCON E-70 2.3MW | County Donegal |
Kilronan [22][23] | 1998 | 5 | 10 | Vestas V39 500 | County Roscommon |
Kilvinane [24] | 2006 | 4.5 | 3 | Gamesa G850 | County Cork |
Kingsmountain [25] | 2003 | 25 | 10 | Nordex N80 | County Sligo |
Knockawarriga [26] | 2008 | 22.5 | 9 | Nordex N90 2.5MW | County Limerick |
Lackan | 2006 | 6.9 | 3 | ENERCON E-70 2.3MW | County Sligo |
Largan Hill [27] | 2000 | 5.9 | 9 | Vestas V47 660 | County Roscommon |
Lisheen [28] | 2009 | 36 | 18 | Vestas V90 | County Tipperary |
Lurganboy | 2008 May | 5.0 | 6 | ENERCON E-44 | County Donegal |
Meentycat[29] | 2005 | 72 | 38 | Siemens 2.3MW | County Donegal |
Midas [30] | 2007 | 32.24 | 23 | Vestas V90 and V52 | County Kerry |
Moanmore [31] | 2006 | 14 | 7 | Enercon E-70 E4 | County Clare |
Mullananalt [32] | 2008 | 7.5 | 5 | GE 1.5 | County Monaghan |
Munignaminnane | 2008 November | 13.8 | 18 | ENERCON E-44 and E-48 | County Kerry |
Rahora | 2008 December | 4 | 5 | ENERCON E-48 | County Cork |
Richfield [33] | 2006 | 27 | 18 | GE 1.5 | County Wexford |
Shannagh | 2009 | 2.55 | 3 | ENERCON E-44 | County Donegal |
Sheeragh | 2008 Nov/Dec | 4.6 | 2 | ENERCON E-70 2.3MW | County Donegal |
Sorne Hill | 2006 | 32 | 16 | ENERCON E-70 2MW | County Donegal |
Tournafulla | 2007 | 27 | 18 | GE 1.5MW | County Limerick |
Completed offshore wind farms
Wind Farm | Completed | Grid Connection Capacity (MW) | Turbines | Type | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arklow Bank[34] | 2004 | 25 | 7 | GE 3.6s Offshore | County Wicklow |
List of proposed or under construction wind farms
Wind Farm | Scheduled | Capacity (MW) | Turbines | Type | Operator | Location | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Codling [35] | Unknown | 1100 | 220 | Unknown | Codling Wind Farm | County Wicklow | Offshore |
Curragh [36] | 2009 September | 18 | 8 | Siemens 2.3VS | Airtricity | County Cork | Onshore |
Dronada [37] | 2010 March | 28.5 | 19 | GE 1.5 | Airtricity | County Limerick | Onshore |
Dublin Array [38] | 2013 | 364 | 145 | unknown | Saorgus [39] | County Dublin | Offshore |
Glenmore | 2009 Summer | 30 | 10 | VESTAS V90 | Clare Winds Ltd | County Clare | Onshore |
Knockastana [40] | 2010 March | 4 | 6 | GE 1.5 | Airtricity | County Limerick | Onshore |
Moneypoint [41] | Unknown | 22.5 | 9 | Unknown | Hibernian Windpower | County Clare | Onshore |
Oriel (Offshore) [42] | 2013 | 330 | 55 | Unknown | Oriel Windfarm Ltd | County Louth | Offshore |
Pallas | 2008 December | 40 | 20 | Enercon E-70 2MW | Pallas Wind Farms Ltd | County Kerry | Onshore |
Skerd Rocks [43] | Unknown | 100 | 20 | 5MW | FST [44] | County Galway | Offshore |
See also
- List of wind farms
- Renewable energy
- Category:Wind farms in the Republic of Ireland
- Wind
- Wind farm
- Wind power
- Wind turbine
- Windmill
- World energy resources and consumption
- Category:Wind power by country
References
- ^ World Wind Energy Report 2008
- ^ Green Inc Blog on the New York Times Website
- ^ EU Directive 2001/77/EC - http://ec.europa.eu/
- ^ Developing the Green Economy in Ireland 2-12-2009 Page 41 http://www.forfas.ie/media/dete091202_green_economy.pdf
- ^ IWEA page on Altagowlan
- ^ Airtricity page on Bindoo
- ^ IWEA page on Booltiagh
- ^ Hibernian Windpower page on Carnsore
- ^ Airtricity page on Coomacheo
- ^ Airtricity page on Coomatallin
- ^ Airtricity page on Corneen
- ^ Hibernian Windpower page on Crockahenny
- ^ SEI list of Irish wind farms
- ^ Airtriciy page on Culliagh
- ^ Hibernian Windpower page on Derrybrien
- ^ IWEA page on Dundalk IT
- ^ SWS page on Flughland
- ^ Airtriciy page on Gartnaneane
- ^ IWEA page on Geevagh
- ^ SWS page on Gneeves
- ^ SWS page on Kilgarvan
- ^ IWEA page on Roscommon wind farms
- ^ Kilronan website
- ^ IWEA page on Kilvinane
- ^ Airtricity page on Kingsmountain
- ^ SWS page on Knockawarriga
- ^ IWEA page on Roscommon wind farms
- ^ SWS page on Lisheen
- ^ Airtricity page on Meentycat
- ^ Airtriciy page on Midas
- ^ IWEA page on Moanmore
- ^ Airtriciy page on Mullananalt
- ^ Airtriciy page on Richfield
- ^ IWEA page on Arklow Bank
- ^ [1]
- ^ Airtricity page on Curragh
- ^ Airtricity page on Dromada
- ^ Dublin Array Details
- ^ company site
- ^ Airtricity page on Knockastana
- ^ Hibernian page on Moneypoint
- ^ Oriel website
- ^ Technical Details
- ^ company site
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- www.sei.ie - Sustainable Energy Ireland, Ireland's national energy agency.
- www.iwea.ie - Irish Wind Energy Association
- [2] - Arklow Bank Wind Park, GE Brochure
- [3] - Sustainable Energy Ireland's report on policies for Renewable Energy programs