Written answers
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Alternative Energy Projects
8:00 pm
Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the potential in County Mayo for wind, wave and bio-energy which he has identified; his targets and timeline for delivery of installed generation capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28411/11]
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) analysis of the wind energy resources for County Mayo shows that County Mayo has the highest average annual wind speeds of any county. Details are set out in the table.
| County | Dec-Feb | Mar-May | June-Aug | Sept-Nov | Annual | Annual |
| metres per second (m/s) | km per hour | |||||
| Mayo | 9.23 | 7.79 | 6.57 | 8.35 | 7.99 | 28.7 |
| Donegal | 9 | 7.73 | 6.37 | 8.19 | 7.82 | 28.2 |
| Galway | 8.67 | 7.3 | 6.26 | 7.8 | 7.51 | 27.0 |
| Kerry | 8.73 | 7.26 | 6.14 | 7.83 | 7.49 | 27.0 |
| Sligo | 8.59 | 7.34 | 6.15 | 7.7 | 7.45 | 26.8 |
| Clare | 8.43 | 7.1 | 6.05 | 7.6 | 7.30 | 26.3 |
| Cork | 8.35 | 6.96 | 5.92 | 7.35 | 7.15 | 25.7 |
| Roscommon | 8.17 | 6.94 | 5.99 | 7.29 | 7.10 | 25.6 |
| Leitrim | 7.95 | 6.8 | 5.72 | 7.15 | 6.91 | 24.9 |
| Median County | 8.16 | 6.87 | 5.91 | 7.29 | 7.05 | 25.38 |
Mean wind speeds at 50m above ground level
Source: SEAI Wind Atlas
As of the second quarter of 2011 there is a total of 46 MW of wind capacity installed in Mayo. A further 65 MW of wind projects have a signed contract in place with the grid operators and are scheduled to be commissioned over the next 3 years. Approximately 700 MW of wind energy capacity in Mayo is included in the Gate 3 Round of grid connection offers which is due to be built out between 2012 and 2020. Mayo County Council has recently published a renewable energy strategy that identifies target areas for wind farm development.
Wave technology is still at the RD&D stage and is not yet commercially viable. The Ocean Energy Development Unit of SEAI has supported research and development of wave energy prototypes and has been progressing a grid connected wave test site off Belmullet County Mayo. Further progress is subject to budgetary considerations. A report commissioned by the Western Development Commission (WDC) has identified the potential development of biomass Combined Heat and Power in the Western region, including Mayo. The RASLRES (Regional Approaches to Stimulating Local Renewable Energy Solutions) multinational European bioenergy project, funded by the Northern Periphery Programme (NPP) and led by the Western Development Commission, is currently undertaking pilot projects on bioenergy development in the West of Ireland.
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