Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of wind generation projects currently in operation throughout the country; the total contribution to the national grid; the extent to which similar projects are awaiting approval or planning permissions; when the projects currently on hand are likely to become fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31009/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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There are a total of 152 windfarms connected to the national grid with a total installed capacity of 1,628 MW approximately. This information is publicly available on the Eirgrid and ESB Network websites at www.eirgrid.ie and www.esb.ie/esbnetworks . Planning applications are decided under planning legislation on an individual basis by each planning authority and details regarding number and type of projects awaiting planning permission are available from individual planning authorities.

In order to connect to the electricity grid, generators require a grid connection offer. Supervision of the grid connection process, including access to offers, is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Gate process was put in place by the CER following public consultation. It is a group processing approach (GPA) towards the processing and issuance of grid connection offers to renewable generators.

To date there have been 3 Gates. Under Gate 1 and Gate 2, 1755MW of connection offers were made and accepted. Under Gate 3, 3900MW of offers have issued to renewable generators. In addition to the 1900MW of renewable generation already connected to the grid, 1500MW of renewable generation has already contracted for grid connection build with either EirGrid or ESB Networks. For the most part, these are projects from Gate 1 and Gate 2 that are still awaiting grid build-out, along with about 500MW from Gate 3. Indicative timelines for the connection of those who have contracted are available on the EirGrid and ESB Networks websites.

The latest forecasts from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as to the amount of renewable generation required to meet our 40% renewable electricity target is 4000MW, provided we achieve our energy efficiency goals. It is expected that between what is already built in Gate 1 and Gate 2 and what has already contracted to build along with the remainder of Gate 3 is largely sufficient for the achievement of our 40% target, even if some Gate 3 developers ultimately decide not to accept their offer. In order to be accepted into the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff scheme (REFIT), administered by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, applicants must have both a grid connection offer and planning permission.