Ministers from the UK and Ireland are today (24 January) set to sign a ‘memorandum of understanding’ that could see 700 wind turbines constructed in the midlands of Ireland.

Irish Energy Minister Pat Rabbittee and UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey will sign the Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony during a conference in Dublin hosted by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.

The Memorandum of Understanding affirms the two States’ commitment to:

• maintaining a ‘strong partnership’ on energy issues;
• achieving ‘closer integration’ of electricity markets, and
• maximising the ‘sustainable use of low carbon renewable energy resources’.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), should analysis show that ‘renewables trading’ between Ireland and the UK is ‘mutually beneficial', an inter-governmental agreement would then be drawn up and signed in 2014.

Should such an agreement be signed, a number of companies are expected to submit proposals to a competitive process that will see renewable electricity transported to the National Grid through undersea cables via two points in Wales.

In announcement of the agreement, Irish Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte will say: “Ireland has the potential to generate far more wind energy than we could consume domestically.

“The opportunity to export this green power presents an opportunity for employment growth and export earnings which we must seize if we can. Today the two governments are committing themselves to a programme of work. We will work closely with the UK government so we are in a position to move towards a formal agreement on energy trading.

One project, Greenwire, funded by Element Power would see the production of 3,000 megawatts of electricity from wind turbines located across the midland counties of Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois, by 2018.

“We will tease out the very complex engineering and market issues so that, subject to their successful resolution and a decision by UK and Irish Ministers to proceed, in a year’s time, we will be in a position to make an intergovernmental agreement providing a formal basis for energy trading”, says Rabbitte.

According to the DECC, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey, will say: “Trading power with Ireland could increase the amount of green power in our energy mix and potentially bring down costs for UK consumers.

“Making the most of the natural renewable resource available around our islands could benefit the economies of both countries. The Memorandum of Understanding marks the continuation of close working between our Governments on the potential for energy trading.”

Jobs and the economy

Should the construction of a 3,000 megawatt project go ahead, it is expected to generate as many as 6,000 construction jobs, in addition to ongoing employment in maintenance and manufacture.

According to Element Power, their plans could deliver savings to UK consumers in the region of £7 billion over 15 years as opposed to alternative renewable sources.

Eyesore

However, concerns have surfaced regarding the size of the proposed turbines, each of which would reportedly have to stand at 600 feet in order to generate enough electricity in the relatively ‘windless’ midland areas.

Speaking to the BBC, spokesman for the Lakelands Wind Information Group, Andrew Duncan, said: "People don't actually understand the scale of them… Putting up the largest turbines in the world without consultation - I think it is ludicrous, to be honest."

"It seems to be an Irish solution to a British problem - politically they don't want turbines on the British countryside, they are under a lot of pressure from the general public over there and it seems they want to impose these wind farms on the Irish general public instead,"

Read more about Greenwire and Lakelands Wind Information Group