Why are Ireland’s renewable energy targets important?

Ireland has targets for 2020 under our EU obligations which require us to have met 16% of our energy being sourced from renewables. I fear we are not going to meet those targets, meaning Ireland faces the unfortunate and avoidable prospect of having to pay fines for non-compliance.

How would you describe the relationship between rural Ireland and the wind industry?

To be honest, my assessment would be that it has been mixed. There is a disconnect I believe. When you look at the policy landscape and issues arising in rural Ireland, so much of it appears as though people, government and resources are in retreat from rural communities, which in turn rightly feel increasingly isolated. As an industry, we’ve invested €4.5bn in rural communities. We believe we have more to offer, more to invest and more to achieve – together with those communities. Farmers, landowners and people living in rural communities are the custodians of our landscape and they are central to progress which is why they must be recognised as such.

How do you see wind energy evolving in the next five years?

Turbines on many of Ireland’s earlier windfarms will need to be replaced over the next five to 10 years. I think there may be scope to reduce the size of some of these windfarms but that would only be possible if the turbines can be replaced by ones capable of generating more energy. That may mean replacing older turbines with new, taller turbines. Because of technology advances, these taller turbines emit less sound. In reality, smaller turbines in the future will require there to be more of them on a windfarm. But I think, as an industry, we need to have a wider and meaningful discussion around the idea of taller turbines and what that would mean for our host communities.

What impact does wind industry investment have on a community?

On average, every 30MW windfarm (12 turbines with a generating capacity of 2.5MW each) requires an infrastructure spend of €45m, creating engineering skillset jobs in construction and maintenance. Such a windfarm delivers €300,000 in development contributions and up to €250,000 in annual commercial rates to the local authority. Once connected, the windfarm generates enough energy to power 19,000 homes.

Do the many legal challenges to windfarms threaten the future of wind energy in Ireland?

Too much of what we do in Ireland by way of development is ending up in the court system. By its very nature, anything that ends up in a legal action will be fractious, expensive and there will ultimately be bad feeling on both sides. We need to fundamentally rethink our planning system and change how we engage with communities that ultimately have to host development. And onshore wind energy needs to be part of that discussion.

Title: CEO of Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA).

Percent of Irish electricity from wind: 23%.

Wind energy capacity currently installed: 2,851MW.

Capacity target: c. 4,100MW by end-2020.

Irish spend on fossil fuel imports: €15m/day.