Irish regulator approves 1,348MW of renewable energy applications

Dublin (Platts)--15Nov2006

Ireland's Commission for Energy Regulation published Tuesday a list of
qualified renewable energy generator applicants eligible for connection to the
national electricity grid. In total 121 applicants have qualified for
inclusion for network connections, equivalent to 1,348 MW of renewable
generation capacity, almost all of which is wind farm projects.
Following the lifting of a moratorium on new renewable energy connections
to the national grid in November 2004 a new group processing scheme for
applicants was introduced. Applicants were divided into two groups, Gate 1 and
Gate 2, depending on the status of their application. By the end of 2005 all
Gate 1 applicants had been issued connection offers, a total of 33 applicants
with a potential installed renewable energy capacity of 370 MW.
In March 2006 the CER issued draft proposals to deal with the second
phase of the group processing approach to connection applications from
renewable generators. The CER decided that Gate 2 offers will be issued, in
application date order, to projects with a total capacity of 1300 MW, the vast
majority of which were wind farms.
Under an EU directive, Ireland has a target of generating 13.2% of its
final electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2010. Earlier this
year the Department of Natural Resources increased this target to 15% by 2010
or 1650 MW of installed renewable capacity. The recently published green paper
on energy has set a target of 30% of electricity generated from renewables by
2020.
Latest figures from national grid operator, Eirgrid, show that Ireland
has 834 MW of installed renewable energy capacity connected to the national
grid, 598.6 MW of which is from wind farm projects. In addition, there are
675.2 MW of signed connection offers to wind farms, giving a total of 1509 MW
of renewable energy capacity expected on stream by the end of 2009.
The latest approved applications will boost this figure towards 3000 MW
of renewable energy connected to the national grid. The CER anticipates
rolling out connection offers to Gate 2 applicant from early 2007.

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