UK to Import Wind Power from Ireland

The UK Government is considering plans to import wind power from Ireland to the National Grid via cables under the Irish Sea. The power would then be fed to areas in North and West Wales to up to three million homes.

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Element Power said the £6bn scheme could save consumers billions of pounds as it is cheaper than UK’s own off shore wind generation. The urgency for the UK Government is it’s commitment  to achieving 15% of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020- just eight years away. Element Power has recently told BBC Wales that its proposals could provide up to 10% of that target.

Mike O’Neill President of of Element Power says that the infrastructure project would bring economic benefits for the UK, Wales and for Ireland. In Wales, as in parts of England, there have been large demonstrations and protests against the building of wind farms and this would be a neat way for the Government to sidestep confrontation by not building so many of  its own on-shore wind farms, or more expensive offshore ones and yet still meet its eco-targets.  For Ireland, it would be an opportunity to export wind energy surplus to its requirements. Win-win it would seem… but perhaps just for the short term for the UK?

Under the plan 40 wind farms, with a total of 700 wind turbines, would be based in the Bog of Allen in the midlands of Ireland. (see map below). The electricity would then be sent to Wales under the Irish Sea. The cables would resurface at two locations in Wales; one at Pentir near Caernarfon and the other at Pembroke.

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Because both of these locations are near existing power stations, sub stations and pylons, the environmental impact would be minimal, which should head off any objections in Wales. A converter station would be required at each site- each being about the size of two football pitches.

Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth commented that while it did not oppose the scheme, the UK should still develop its own renewable energy sources. Not only would this be cheaper in the long run, there would be the additional benefits of creating employment in the UK.

A UK Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman told BBC Wales:

“Further interconnection could open up real opportunities for the UK – to potentially lower prices, help with system balancing and enhance energy security.”

The plans have been discussed within the Coalition and in principle would seem to satisfy both political parties. The Liberal are looking for increased green energy but have concerns over the high cost of constructing wind farms offshore. Conservative ministers are worried about opposition in rural constituencies to the erection of onshore wind turbines.

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The biggest challenge to the Project is likely to be the precedent created because the Irish want to access the subsidies given to UK wind power. That precedent could mean that the EU demand that other EU countries supplying renewable energy to the UK be given the same advantages and compete in open competition for tenders.

If the problems were overcome, power could be flowing by 2018, two years before the 2020 deadline. The project wouldn’t prevent Ireland reaching its own 2020 target,  a 40% cut in carbon by 2020.