Sir, – I am on the Dáil record requesting clarity to future offshore wind licensing contracts, specifically addressing two points: (a) that Ireland would not be paying a higher domestic spot price for wind produced electricity compared to the spot price that we export at; and (b) that Ireland would not be contracted to pay a higher electricity price for domestic wind generation, leaving our economy at a competitive disadvantage when compared to accessing cheaper energy on international electricity markets.
I received no clarity to either question but media reports over the weekend suggest the latest round of offshore wind auctions expects Irish prices at €150 per megawatt hour which is three times more expensive than Scotland and substantially higher than Europe also. Can anyone understand why the country with the most wind potential in all of Europe has to pay up to three times the going rate to exploit it? – Yours, etc,
MATT SHANAHAN TD
(Independent),
Waterford.