Because the wage structure at the ESB is out of control and anyone who attempts to tamper with it, will be electrocuted.

As citizens we should be benefiting a lot more from this. One of the companies involved Element Power are American and will export the majority of profits to the US from ‘our’ wind resources. The other company involved is Mainstream Renewable Power who are Irish run. Eddie O’Connor CEO will look after our interests better.

Eddie had been advising the Irish government to invest in the renewable energy industry in the 80s and 90s as he saw the potential to export electricity with our massive wind resources. They wouldn’t listen to him so he started Airtricity. He sold Airtricity and started Mainstream Renewable Power which is now a global player. The MRP ‘Energy Bridge’ project will have investment from China but Eddie O’Connor will look after Irish interests better than GreenWire (Element Power). He has promised 54,000 jobs and community benefits.

We are giving our resources away so foolishly. We still have a lot more resources to develop that can be connected into the new European supergrid that Eddie O’Connor is spearheading, like tidal, wave and solar.

Find out how we should fund same and benefit as ‘Irish shareholders’ on http://www.Trillions.ie

Element Power are not American *sighs*, Element Power Ireland are part of Element Power an International group backed by Hudson Clean Energy Fund (might have name slightly wonky). Element Power is largely comprised of people from Cork some of whom used to run SWS Energy which was bought out by Bord Gáis. The Irish company is employing two Irish engineering firms to do the planning work, those two engineering firms are also based in Cork and employ largely Irish people. Is that Irish enough for you?

Eddie O’Connor is planning to do the exact same thing as Element Power and where the fook do you think he gets his money from? Investors from everywhere and anywhere. So no bloody difference in terms of Irish/Non-Irish.

Unbelievable that anyone can be so xenophobic in this day and age.

Pat Rabbitte exporting wind? Certainly the right man for it.

Trillions…your website seems very pro Eddie o connor and is uncritically pro wind-farms…can you back up your claims with scientific research.I wonder how you would feel if you lived close to this project?would you start a website promoting the developer?What about the many locals and scientists who plan to object to this on scientific,environmental and common-sense grounds?the developers and government have said the project will bring 50000 jobs…now they say 30000…international research says a few hundred during construction and a tiny number of jobs when completed…does this not like all the other stories developers/government have sold us before?

“A community councillor from Argyll is mounting a landmark legal challenge against the UK and the EU at the United Nations in Geneva this week over their renewables policies, on the grounds that the public is being denied the truth about the alleged benefits, and the adverse impact, of wind power.

Christine Metcalfe, who represents Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council, claims that the UK Government and the EU have breached a fundamental tenet of citizens’ rights under the UN’s Åarhus Convention, and she will appear before the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to explain why.

Mrs Metcalfe will present her council’s case at a hearing before UNECE’s Compliance Committee next Wednesday alleging that the UK and the EU are pursuing renewables policies which have been designed in such a way that they have denied the public the right to be informed about, or to ascertain, the alleged benefits in reducing CO 2 and harmful pollution emissions from wind power, or the negative effects of wind power on health, the environment and the economy.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/argyll-grandmother-takes-uk-and-eu-to-the-united-nations-over-plans-to-turn-scotland-into-windfarm-hedgehog-8399574.html

Hi Elaine. I am an ecologist too. Personally i would prefer to see everyone with a suitable site have a 6 kW wind turbine and solar hybrid system powering their own homes and businesses or see community owned wind farms benefiting communities, but the reality is this is not happening. Hopefully it will happen in 25 years time (the length of time these wind park agreements are to last) when people and communities are more conscious of the value of their local resources. Am trying to figure out the best scenario for the community of Ireland as a whole because the wind that passes over our land is one of our natural resources (like the oil and gas off our coast). I spoke of the two principal players Greenwire (USA/Element/Hudson CF) and Energy Bridge which have started an office in the midlands as well as Dublin. I personally would support Eddie O’Connor because he has stated that he will create 54,000 jobs (you can see this from the link i am providing here http://www.energybridge.ie/Community_funds.asp) and is setting up a community fund to benefit local communities where the projects take place. GreenWire (Hudson CEF/Element Power) are offering 10,000 jobs and no mention of benefiting local communities (apart from the trickle down of workers shopping local and using local accommodation for a short period) http://www.greenwire.ie/benefits/job-creation/.

Energy Bridge (MRP) clearly state on their website that they will support the communities where they are based with a Community Fund … Which would you prefer? 54,000 jobs and a manufacturing industry in Ireland and a Community Funds project for the duration of the project lifecycle or 10,000 jobs and uncertainty about how the communities locally will benefit during the project lifecycle?

I am also well aware that Energy Bridge MRP is funded by a large number of foreign investors including Chinese but the project to me benefits Ireland and her people far better.

Eddie O’Connor is a visionary who is making it happen, he walks the talk, and is the person who is making the European supergrid a reality. This has the potential to create far more sustainable jobs in Ireland also in the future. He believes the wind turbines and related manufacturing industry could be developed here too and that is where he gets his figure of 54,000. I have never met the man but i admire him for his persistence and getting things done. He is conscious of local people where he works. He leads by example and if the government had listened to him in the 80s and 90s when he was CEO of Bord na Mona we might have been developing this project as a Irish state owned industry that would benefit us far better.

Maybe Greenwire will come up with a similar deal that will benefit the communities where they work – long after they leave with their wind turbines in place.

The volume of electricity would be too great for here, besides this is only one wind farm, there are countless others going up to supply the domestic market

Wind energy cannot easily be stored therefore it is the excess energy produced that will be sold off. Given the problem that is supply and demand, the wind might be at its optimum speed for production in the middle of the night, when the demand is low in which case it will be transferred to Britain via the interconnector. Ireland will be first dibs.

Two comments, both thought through, it’s nice to read someone’s opinion that it not just a knee jerk reaction or government bashing. Thanks

Thanks guys

The electricity generated by wind turbines and power stations alike all go into a national grid. What you consume in your home would be a mix of the where the electricity is generated. The surplus will then be sold off to the UK

“Wind energy cannot easily be stored”-electricity cant be stored full stop

Then what are batteries? It’s not easily stored on a large scale.

Yes Cian, electricity can not be, energy however can. Look up pumped storage which is popular in Japan. Wind Power supplies pumps in off peak times which moves water into an elevated resevoir. WHen supply is then low from the wind but demand is high, this water is then released, passing over turbines as it flows which generates electricity. There was thoughts of trying something similar here but the geographic and geological nature (porous sedimentary rock) of our West Coast (where it would be most effective) were not ideal for this kind of energy storage system.

Thanks again eoin. I thought there was a system like that somewhere in Ireland?

Philip, there was a group a few years ago I met with that called themselves ‘Spirit of Ireland’ who were very keen to pursue this. They had a very public campaign however in order to overcome the geological issues they wanted to use a tanking system for the area the water was to be stored, similar to that used in mines in Nova Scotia (I think), Canada. However, this drove the initial cost sky high and, as they had little or no independent/private funding, they would be relying on exchequer funding to foot the bill. Money we don’t have unfortunately.

Incorrect, there building two of there own interconnecters and the project is entirely independent of our grid.

There is a pumped hydro station in Ireland already -Turlough Hill, Wicklow.

I presume your an awful negative person to go drinking with

No.

Not necessarily. There will need to be a considerable number of engineers and technicians required to monitor and maintain the turbines when built too as well as the turbines’ support network and of course, maintaining the site also. Like any power plant, there are long term employment opportunities with this development which, given the inter-connector and abundant fuel supply, are very much of the sustainable variety.

The majority would be Jim but a reasonable amount of longer terms jobs (hard to put a number on that) would be created for the operation and maintenance of the turbines.

We could become the Saudi Arabia of the wind power world !!!!

I live near two wind industries and I can tell from experience that the amount of jobs is considerably small after the construction phase. Down here it takes about 4 to 5 people to maintain 45 turbines, of which all are of German and Polish nationality.

Unfortunately, the only work done by Irish workers will be the Civils work! The erecting of the turbines and Commissioning will be done by other EU citizens.

Don’t you just hate these perpetual objectors to wind energy.
Would you prefer a nuclear reactor in your backyard ?

Ok so by erecting the turbines you mean what? I know for a fact that the people driving the lorries, operating the cranes and acting as RE are more often than not Irish. Siemens/GE/Vestas manufacture the turbines and may oversee the installation but the construction workers are not necessarily from other countries. I think the only Turbine manufacturer who did/does insist on doing their own foundations was Enercon and again I’m pretty sure they tendered it out.

The process is tendered, the companies involved are taking CVs, company names etc. If you don’t keep your eye on the ball then you can’t blame anyone if you are invited to tender. Also use your noggin and approach the big engineers now if you drive lorries, cranes, provide cement etc. because they will all be looking to put teams together. think ahead, go back to train as Ops managers, wind engineers, maintenance crew etc. I see jobs advertised for all over the UK both off and onshore on a daily basis on my LinkedIn. You can’t expect it to fall into your lap, people from all over Europe will tender for this so it is up to you to have the best team and most competitive price.

Just hanging it out there.
I am an engineer, the maintenance on a commercial turbine is minimal.
The infrastructure is already there and is being operated at the moment.
This is a step in the right direction but 30k jobs?
Like I said, sounds good.

I am one of two Installation supervisor for one of the turbine supplier you mentioned, who are Irish residents. I’ve overseen the construction of wind farms in Ireland. The only Irish people on the wind farm were the Civils “constructing roads, foundations, sub-stations etc. some of the crane drivers were Irish, they mostly from Northern Ireland

Jim, the 30k I agree completely, is likely to be the very maximum employed during planning on construction but to be fair 700+ turbines are going to require a reasonable amount of maintenance plus ops and everything else that goes with running the wind farm. H&S alone will be an absolute nightmare, another area where there will be so much work even long term as you will always have people checking in and out, needing induction etc.

These projects in the Midlands could be really positive if done properly, if you have issues around wind farms then make it your business to be informed and monitor planning to make sure it is all done properly but don’t immediately assume a negative attitude without any merit to it.

So Stanley what work are you referring to then if you say you’ve seen Irish constructing layout of wind farm? That is a lot of work for Irish people for 700+ turbines is it not? What other work are you referring to exactly, as I asked is it the actually lifting and placing of the turbine? I’m really not sure what you are trying to say here?

EMD.
I see a lot of words there but no real point.
Power generation is not really the problem, storage and delivery is.
Google bloom box to see how far behind we are.
Incidentally Google use these systems already.
Coors research are also developing a massive ceramic battery that’s worth a look.
Plenty of positives out there, just a lack of direction at the moment.

Jim, you mentioned jobs and where they would be. I answered with where I thought the jobs would be and how I thought Irish people could gain from these jobs. So where did we start with the electricity storage? Not my area at all and I haven’t commented on same so not sure what point you are making?

The wind is for the UK. I work in the energy sector this is a farce

Damn right Jack

Shadow Flicker is no routinely surveyed as part of wind farm development and there are guidelines for same. The house survey for noise, shadow flicker etc. is one of the first things to be reviewed when looking at planning constraints.

The midlands are pretty flat and have no windy rural hills to speak of, small hillocks, drumlins, eskers but no windy rural hills as you describe them.

Job opportunies in the long run. Revenue flowing back into the country. Skills being developed here. The bill for importing fossil fuels to generate electricity will greatly be reduced. Revenue staying in Ireland

Well said Stanley.

Hey Stan,

I would assume this…. However, our government has an issue with communicating concrete evidence of an action benefiting the public. Our governments past history with disclosure proves we cannot trust the government to share the wealth with the public. Past history shows us, that any wealth goes to a select few.

I would love for the goverenment to give us an itemized accounting of the distribution of benefits.

They have to cut away bogs to plant them there. You mention eco warriors. Does that implicate that this so called clean energy isn’t that clean after all? I think a lot of people in the midlands will curse them once they’re there and the jobs are gone to foreign companies. The only thing they have left is the view, the noise and the shadow flicker.

I agree fully with you. I’ve seen the damage Bog cutters do.

Yes because cutting away the bog to burn an inefficient fuel it is a far better idea.

Jeroen Bos, how have you worked out they’ll have to cutaway the bogs to put turbines in? Cutaway bogs are those harvested as per BnM while cutover bogs are traditionally less intensively harvested albeit by machine. Turbine siting will be based on a number of factors not least the ecology as well as geotech investigations. It is most likely turbines will be situated in areas of cutaway, areas cutover and all within easy reach of a road network of some sort. Much less impact than going down to take hopper loads of turf or strip a bog.

Ur not allowed to cut turf from our bogs anymore …

Exactly, that’s now for Paddy to enjoy.

I personally think they look quite majestic as I drive past them.

I wouldn’t want to live under or near one though, I imagine that would be hell.

There are 10 times more wind farms in the UK

Incorrect.

Well maybe we should use all of those well trained FAS students. I’m sure if we had the correct skill base in this country at the right price they would be utilised. Remember the port tunnel and all the Irish tunnel boring companies lining up for the contract. No I don’t either

BS, absolute BS. The jobs will be tendered out post planning like all wind development jobs and it will be the best man wins. Such absolute nonsense, the only reason it’ll be UK companies will be if they are more competitive than Irish ones.

100% agree with you.

Your friends are very wrong by saying that. They are all aid of Irish, Danish, UK, German, Polish, Porteguse, Austarlian, Swedish, South african

Watch this space. Scottish and Southern or their UK competitors will get the contract and the jobs. You are very naive to think this is an employment boost for the midlands

Who do you think runs the turbines remotely? Who watches the amount of wind, energy produced etc.? There are a team of people doing so. Wind farms or groups of wind farms normally have a permanent on the ground manager. Then you have the people looking after maintenance. People carrying out environmental monitoring, for water, bats, birds and pollution control. That is only a small number of the jobs I can think of immediately. Oh and as I said before the H&S work is mind blowing, the inductions, the paperwork, the statements, the risk assessments etc. There are jobs and lots of them otherwise people wouldn’t keep advertising them all the time.

“It is ‘our’ wind”

Who do they think they are? Coming over and “stealing” the wind.

They look simply awful and might disturb the deer.

Thumbs down for what telling the truth cop on fools.

No what it is though is clever bastards exploiting a resource and making money from it, I wish I had thought of it! People in the areas around the wind farms are already benefiting from increased numbers of visitors to the area doing field investigations. They’re renting houses, buying food, paying for hotels/guesthouses, eating out and generally putting money into the economy. Then there is landowners who are getting approximately €18,000 per year per turbine, they get €1,500 for signing up to scheme so if planning fails they come out of it with that at least. The local community will gain from the Community Gain Fund which is a requirement under SID, can’t remember % that is but of a project like this it will be significant. If used wisely and administered properly by local authorities the money could be used for long term sustainable projects for the areas.

Ok ok. Stop everything! No more progress or future planning. Just dig up the bog and burn it sure we won’t need heat the global warming is coming and we can produce all the jobs we need in the candle making industry to provide light to all at night. I’ll probably miss the journal though.

I don’t think we can consider wind OUR natural resource. Pretty much global that is.

A long as its blowing across our land it’s ours. When it gets to Britannia it’s theirs.

Your wonderful ESBI has been building wind farms in the UK. Bet you didn’t know that!!! If it was up to the ESBI we would be paying double for electricity. Competition is good for us

Ireland is one of the top 5 windiest countries in the world. So yes wind can be considered

If people get a chance to read the story they will see one of the main reasons it got the backing in the uk was “I dont mind as long as I can’t see them” the British councilor went to state it’s easier to get planning permission in Ireland they don’t have as much red tape. Also the amount that greenwire is investing is totally different to what our news media site are putting out. Greenwire will own the vanes, the cable’s. The irish government paid for the interconnector on the understanding we could buy cheap power from the UK. Instead we are producing here for a private company working on behalf of British power/energy and buying it from them at the same time… our land, our interconnector… christ lads even Fr. Dougal can see we’re been taken for a ride.

Mack,

It was Mike O’Neill made the comment regarding planning, idiotic comment from him in my opinion, he is CEO Element Power in UK.

Element Power are paying for 2 new interconnectors themselves, the interconnector installed by Irish government is separate. The company are working for themselves not for British just the same as mainstream are, they are the ones paying to set it all up. If you had £7 billion wouldn’t you invest it in something like this?

Eddie O’Connor is one of the companies trying to develop in the midlands? Mainstream Renewable Power, his company, is one of two major players although there may be others doing it more quietly. The Brits are not developing anything at all, they simply are signing up to buy it if it comes online.

The Irish Grid as it stands can’t support anymore wind farms so this is partly why they are selling it off, in the future it can be used on the Irish Grid if we need it. However that is just my understanding of it, grid is scary stuff.

Thanks EMD, if this a genuine good news story, then I’m thrilled. If Mainstream is re-engaging here in Ireland then it would indicate that things have moved on somewhat.
Trouble is, I like everybody else have become suspicious trying to discern the spin from the truth.

Fair enough Declan I understand, not a fan of spin myself and certainly the wind industry has been masterful at it. Yeah Mainstream have a few wind farms as I understand it now and definitely have been putting in huge work into their Midlands project. I know the bird surveyors on the Mainstream project :-)