Dozens of companies, both Irish and foreign, are competing for franchises to operate wind farms following what was probably the best-ever month for wind turbines producing electricity for the national grid.
According to Dr Eddie O'Connor, former managing director of Bord na Mona, last week's storm "serves to remind us that, in European terms, this country is gifted with a wonderful wind resource which is capable of being exploited."
Dr O'Connor, who now runs a private company called Future Wind Partnership Ltd, said Ireland could meet its Kyoto commitment to curb the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change by investing substantially in renewable energies.
New wind farms are coming on stream "week by week", according to Dr O'Connor, as their promoters rush to beat tomorrow's deadline for qualification under the first round of the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER-1) competition.
This round, inaugurated by the former minister of State for energy, Mr Emmet Stagg, was to provide a total of 72 megawatts of electricity for the national grid. It will end up supplying 56.5 megawatts, as some of the projects failed to get planning permission.
Apart from the wind farm at Bellacorrick, Co Mayo, which can generate 6.3 megawatts, the successful projects include three new farms in Co Donegal at Gweedore (3 megawatts), Barnesmore Gap (15 megawatts) and Cark Mountain, Inishowen (15 megawatts).
These are operated respectively by Scottish Power and Renewable Energy Systems, a subsidiary of the McAlpine civil engineering group. Another wind farm is currently under construction on Drumlough Hill, Inishowen, with a capacity of 5 megawatts.
At Arigna, Co Roscommon, three more are being built, including one which replaces a controversial scheme at Mount Eagle, near Killorglin, Co Kerry. Their combined capacity will be 11.2 megawatts.
Dr O'Connor's company is among the contenders for franchises under the latest Alternative Energy Requirement competition, AER-3. This is designed to secure a further 90 megawatts of wind-generated electricity for the national grid, at prices underwritten by the ESB.
"There's a massive amount of interest in it, with something like 140 companies competing," he said. "It wouldn't surprise me if the combined bids come to 1,500 megawatts." Bids are expected to be finalised in early February, with the result announced in March.
