Electricity

Renewable Energy FAQ

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable Energy is the term given to energy produced from natural resources for example wind, sun or biomass (trees and plant substance), which are deemed inexhaustible whereas fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) will eventually run out.

How much fossil fuel do we currently use?

75% of mankind's energy consumption comes from fossil fuels. These fuels are finite and will deplete.

Why Wind?

Wind is a sustainable energy source, which is safe, clean, cheap and more importantly free of pollution. Every unit of electricity generated by a wind farm displaces a unit, which would otherwise be produced by a conventional source e.g. fossil fuels.

Why is Wind Power good for the economy?

Wind Power ensures that money spent on electricity is kept in Ireland. It creates wind industry related jobs and attracts manufacturers of wind turbine components. Farmers who own the land on which windfarms are built received increased income whilst still being able to use 95% of their land for traditional farming.

Is it true that wind power is the fastest growing energy resource?

Yes. Germany has invested more than $2 billion in wind power since 1990. In Denmark, wind turbines are the country's largest export. In countries as diverse as China and England, wind power continues to make a significant contribution to power generation.

What is "Sustainable Energy"?

Sustainable energy is the term given to an energy supply that will never deplete.

How many people get their electricity from wind power?

Approximately 7 million Europeans now get their electricity from wind.

What is a Wind Turbine as opposed to a Wind Farm?

A wind turbine is a single machine for generating energy from the wind whereas a Wind Farm is the name given to two or more of these wind turbines, which produce electricity to feed into the national grid.

What is the National Grid?

It is the country's system of power lines for distributing electricity.

Is electricity from wind more expensive than conventional fuels?

Over the past 20 years, the cost of electricity from wind systems has dropped by more than 80%, making it competitive with coal and oil.

What happens when it is not windy?

When the wind is not blowing, the turbines cannot generate electricity. When this happens other energy sources take over and provide electricity to the National Grid. However, there is direct correlation between wind speed and energy consumption i.e. in the winter, the winds are stronger and energy consumption is up and in the summer wind capacity is lower and consumption is lower. Also, there is more wind during the daylight hours than at night reflecting demand.

At what wind speed do the turbines begin to work?

The wind turbines generate electricity when the wind reaches approximately 4-5 meters/second (approximately 9mph) and shut down when the wind reaches a gale force 25m/s (approximately 56mph) to prevent damage to the turbines.

What is m/s (meters per second) in real terms?

A m/s or meter per second equals 2.24 miles per hour.

What is the lifetime of a turbine?

A modern turbine lasts up to 20 years. When the turbine outlives its' useful life, it can be removed, the site restored and most of the turbines can be recycled.

What does the developer do to curb Visibility issues in the pre-planning stage?

In designing a wind farm, the extent of its visibility is reduced to the minimum technically possible. From there, the layout of the wind farm is adjusted, so as to minimise the impact of the way wind turbines will look in the landscape from where they can be seen.

What mitigation measures are carried out by the developer regarding Flora and Fauna?

A senior botanist is engaged to monitor each chosen site and confirm that a wind farm does not have any adverse effects on flora on the proposed site or its' environment. Sites are also carefully assessed in consultation with the National Parks & Wildlife Service, relevant Regional Fishery Boards and IWC Bird Watch Ireland. Each body will assess and confirm that the sites are "not near or inline with any migrating flight path and will not have any adverse effect on any other wild life in the area".

Will there be any TV / Radio and Communications Interference?

Energia consultants examine each potential wind site to ascertain whether there will be any interference from the turbines to television, radio and communications networks. If interference exists when the windfarm is operational, measures will be undertaken to correct this.

What is Shadow Flicker?

"Shadow Flicker" is the term used for the flicker of sunlight through the turbine's blades when in motion. Studies carried out by Energia ensure that this does not affect any residential dwelling.

Is there much Noise produced by an operating windfarm?

Energia can confirm that the noise produced by turbines is inaudible beyond a 500-metre radius of any wind farm site.

What studies are carried out with regard to Water and Soil?

Energia carries out research, as part of their Environmental Impact Statement, into the possible effects of a wind farm on the surrounding water, rock formation, soil and bogs to ensure that the turbines will have no detrimental effects on any of the aforementioned.

Will construction affect the Traffic in my locality?

Energia's project management team always plan a construction timetable in advance. We enlist the assistance of the local community in the planning and construction process, to ascertain the best access route to the wind farm site that will not cause any disruption to the local area. Where possible, all construction traffic will not use local roads in the area to access the site.
In the case of offshore windfarms, they are unlikely to be situated in recognised fishing areas which would disturb fishermen or shipping lanes.

How much Carbon Dioxide is actually emitted by humans?

Every year humans emit approximately 26 billion tonnes of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, which equates to 48,000 tonnes every minute.

What is Global Warming?

Global Warming is the damaging effect that burning fossil fuels has on the environment for example, experiencing higher winter rainfall with more severe flooding, lower summer rainfall and water shortage, rising sea levels, accelerated coastal erosion, loss of bogland and threats to agriculture due to additional pests and diseases.

What is the UNFCCC?

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This group put in place policies and measures to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2010.

What is the "Kyoto Agreement"?

An agreement to further reduce emissions was entered into by developed countries, subsequent to the UNFCCC, in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. It was agreed to reduce global emissions of 6 greenhouse gases by 5.2% by the year 2012. The EU will reduce emissions by 8% in total.

What are we as a country doing to reduce emissions?

In response to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Agreements, the Irish Government have put together a Strategic Framework for Action which strongly promotes the growth of renewable energy.

What happens if one or more of the countries do not meet the targets set out by the UNFCCC and Kyoto agreements?

Any country not meeting the targets set out will have a substantial monetary fine imposed on them.

How much energy can wind power supply?

A recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that the world's winds could theoretically supply the equivalent of 5,800 quadrillion BTUs (quads) of energy each year. This is more than 15 times the current world energy demand. (A quad is equal to about 172 million barrels of oil or 45 million tonnes of coal).