John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the incentives in place to promote the development of commercial wind farms for the generation of electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10941/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Capital grant aid is not provided to wind farm developers. The Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) scheme, which is administered by my Department, supports commercial wind farm projects through provision of a floor price. REFIT is a fixed feed in tariff system, designed to provide developers with certainty as to the price they will receive for the electricity generated. As such, it functions by guaranteeing a certain price to generators per unit of energy generated, and steps in to make up the difference between the REFIT price and the market price, in circumstances where this arises. REFIT is paid for from the Public Service Obligation. More information on the terms and conditions of the scheme including the rates that are payable for the electricity produced is available on my Department's website.