A new €17 million wind farm at Snugborough, Co Cavan, is set to become the first wind farm based in the Republic to supply electricity to the grid in Northern Ireland.

The Airtricity wind farm consists of nine 1.5 megawatt turbines and it will be fully operational by October 2003. It will be connected to the Northern Ireland electricity distribution system. The wind farm will produce enough electricity to supply the needs of 8,000 homes. Building work at the site is almost complete.

Commenting on the wind farm construction, Mr Eddie O' Connor, chief executive, Airtricity, said: "This wind farm is a good example of what can be done on a practical level to develop an all-island electricity market. Whilst the industry both North and South is keen to push ahead with the development of an all-island market, there appears to be little real progress."

Mr O'Connor called on governments to come up with an action plan for an all-island market. "This initiative is particularly important given the positive stance taken on the subject by the SDLP, the NI Commission for Electricity and Gas regulation, the CBI and the NI Secretariat," he added

Airtricity is now the largest user of the North-South electricity interconnector. Mr O'Connor said further steps could be taken to increase the electricity flows and reduce costs by removing administrative and operational barriers.

Airtricity is one of the fastest growing renewable energy industry businesses in Europe. It focuses on three business areas: wind farm development, finance and ownership of wind farms. and green electricity supply.

The company currently has more than 25,000 business customers and operates wind farms in Donegal, Cavan and Sligo. Plans are proceeding to construct the first phase of the world's largest offshore wind park off the coast of Wicklow.