Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount and percentage of wind power with access to the national grid; the number of applications awaiting access to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24070/09]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to meet the raised target of 40% renewables; the measures he has taken to address previous calls from EirGrid for more to be done to construct the 250MW per annum needed to reach the renewables targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24072/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the arrangements for obtaining grid connections in relation to proposed wind farm operations; if such grid connections are transferable once approved; the controls which are exercised in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24091/09]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a practice whereby grid connections for proposed wind farm operations are subsequently sold without reference to the original land owners; his views on this practice; and his proposals to deal with same. [24092/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of wind farms currently contributing to the national grid; the total electricity generated thereby; the number of such farms seeking access to the national grid and their capacity to produce electricity in the future; when it is expected that approval will be given to all such applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24328/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 26, 29, 44 and 171 together.

There are currently in excess of 1,400 megawatts (MWS) of renewable powered electricity generating plants accessing the electricity grid. Wind powered technology is the dominant renewable technology. There are 92 windfarms connected with a combined capacity in excess of 1,000 MWs compared to hydro-power with 240 MWs approximately connected and a lesser volume of biomass powered plant connected. The amount of renewable-powered plant connected and accessing the electricity grid is increasing steadily from year to year. It is estimated the available plants contributed 12.2% of all electricity consumed in 2009 compared to 4.4% in 2003.

There are a further 1400 MWs, approximately, of capacity in additional projects which have received connection offers, which have been accepted into REFIT and are in the process of gaining grid access. It is estimated that less than 300 MWs of this additional capacity is required to deliver or exceed the Government target to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to 15% of all electricity consumed by 2010. The excess beyond 300 MWs will contribute to the subsequent Government target to achieve a 40% contribution by 2020. In addition, in December 2008, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) issued a decision which requires Eirgrid and ESB Networks to provide connection offers for an additional 3,900 MWs of new capacity to ensure the 2020 target can be achieved.

The actual completion rate of new renewable-energy powered projects in any future period will be determined by a number of factors including connections completions. In the case of the Gate 3 connection offers, the forecast delivery dates for connections will be notified in detailed connection offers from Eirgrid and ESB Networks planned for delivery to individual applicants later this year. The subsequent build rate of generation plants in any year will be dependent, in part, on the date of completion of grid reinforcements and connections by Eirgrid and ESB Networks rather than any forecast averaged annualised target for any period.

Applications for grid connections to permit grid access are made to ESB Networks for projects at or less than 20 MWs. Larger project applications, above 20 MWs, are made to EirGrid. Supervision of the grid connection process and settlement of any disputes arising is vested in the CER. I have no statutory authority to intervene or to set conditions for connections. However I understand that the connection process does facilitate changes in details, including changes to the named applicant, on connection applications and offers providing the technical specification of the connection proposed is not materially changed. This flexibility permits changes to project proposals without delaying those projects. Excluding technical changes from the permitted changes protects the expectations of landowners along the planned connection route.