Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the names of any wind farm projects in which agencies under his remit are involved; if any such projects provide a community fund; if so, the amount distributed by each fund, how the fund calculation is made and how the funds are disbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40266/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the community consultation that has taken place on wind projects in Gate Three by the agencies within his remit; if any planned or pending community consultations exist for the same projects; his plans to introduce measures that ensure all State and semi-State energy companies under his remit make every effort to operate in an openly transparent manner as well as co-operate and consult with local communities where they propose to develop natural resource projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40267/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together.

The EirGrid website provides a list of connected and contracted generators, both wind and other generators, and the locations of these throughout the country. EirGrid and ESB Networks have provided the details set out in the table below, of the wind projects in Gates 1, 2 and 3 being undertaken by State Companies. The dates provided for contracted projects are those supplied within their connection agreement and are indicative. Details of investment partners (including any local community involvement), who may be involved in the wind projects in question is a matter for the State Companies concerned. All of the companies in question operate on a commercial basis and financial details of individual projects are a day to day operational matter for the companies.

All projects developed, whether by State Companies or the private sector, are subject to the planning process including all requisite consultation processes. Developers engage with local individual stakeholders and local communities in the areas where they are proposing to build windfarms.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the figures or estimates for the mean annual wind speed at 50 metres above ground for each county; if he will provide those figures as a percentage of the total wind resource for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40268/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Table 1 shows the seasonal and annual mean wind speeds per county. The figures are a result of the modelling by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which produced the national wind atlas in 2004.

Historical weather datasets were compiled for intervals of six hours at all atmospheric levels. Analysis was then performed using grids of successively finer mesh size to simulate conditions down to a grid size of 1km square. The mesh size was further reduced (200m square) using a second model having regard to local land elevation, land cover and roughness. A comparison was made between the predicted wind characterisation and those measured at a range of met sites across the country (but not in each county) to minimise the residual differences predicted and actual mean values encountered.

The mean wind speed figure might provide an indication for a county and a useful comparison of a county to other counties but local factors are always crucial in producing the actual mean wind speed at a site. Such local factors include altitude, aspect, topography, land use and exposure. As a result, the mean annual wind speed at different locations within a county can vary greatly. A particular site's annual mean wind speed can be estimated using the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) online wind atlas at http://maps.seai.ie/wind . This will provide a better indication of the potential mean wind speed in a locality as opposed to the county's mean figure.

At a national level the estimated accessible wind resource on land in 2020 is 12,000 MW. The methodology is set out in the SEAI publication Renewable Energy Resources in Ireland for 2010 and 2020 Report, 2004 . The accessible resource estimate accounts for the following constraints among others: o Minimum recommended spacing between turbines; o Extracted wind speeds below 7.5 metres per second;

o Buffer zones on and around habitation, roads, lakes, infrastructure and airports;

o Cost;

o Social acceptance of wind turbines.

Table 1

Deputies:

Mean wind speeds at 50m above ground level. Source: SEAI Wind Atlas