Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 608: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position for those who have invested in onshore wind farms but who are outside the gate three process; the position for a 30MW onshore wind farm that is not in the gate three process; if any future grid application system will favour a 30MW wind farm such as this over a smaller wind farm; the options available for these type of grid applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15246/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Applications for grid connections are made to ESB Networks and/or EirGrid, in the first instance. Data on grid connections has been published by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) as part of its consultation process on grid connections and additional information is published from time to time by EirGrid.

The Government has set targets to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to electricity consumed to 15% by 2010 and 40% by 2020. Steady progress is being made towards the 2010 target. The CER and EirGrid have calculated that 5800 megawatts (MWs) of renewable capacity is required to achieve the 40% target in 2020. The latest figures from EirGrid and the CER show that there are in excess of 1,300 MW of renewable electricity capacity already connected to the system with a further 1,500 MW with signed connection agreements or in the final stages of agreeing one.

The recent CER decision on the 'Gate 3' round provides for connection offers for 3,900 MW of additional renewable electricity capacity. The size of the gate 3 round was initially set at 3,000MW of capacity by the CER but this was increased to 3,900MW of capacity in line with the Government's renewable electricity 2020 target of 40%. The Gate 3 process was extensively consulted on by the CER and all industry stakeholders were afforded the opportunity of responding to the proposed connection process.

The projects for Gate 3 were selected on a date application completed process so those projects longest in the queue were dealt with first. The projects in the Gate 3 process are currently being assessed as part of the connection process and there is no fixed date to bring in any additional projects at this time.