Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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539. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to outline the number of wind farms in operation here; the average daily megawatt supply from wind energy; and the number of wind farms being planned [44091/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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EirGrid and ESB Networks are the system operators of the transmission and distribution grids respectively. There are currently 187 wind farms in operation in Ireland (154 are attached to the distribution grid and 33 to the transmission grid). Further detail on these wind farms is publicly available on the EirGrid and ESB Networks websites. Wind is a variable source of renewable energy and thus the amount of energy supplied by wind each day fluctuates. However, the average energy derived from wind generation in 2013 was 17% of total electricity.

It should be noted that EirGrid and ESB Networks, the system operators, do not hold information on the number of wind farm projects being planned or seeking planning permission in Ireland, and have no role in assessing the commercial viability of proposed wind farms nor in making planning decisions. However, they have provided information on the number of expected wind farm projects contracted to connect to the electricity grid. In this regard, 214 wind farms are contracted to connect to the grid (152 to the distribution grid and 62 to the transmission grid). It is important to note that this figure may change as some wind farm developers may decide not to proceed with their projects for commercial reasons or may not receive the required planning permission.