Ireland may have Europe's second-largest wind resource, but it is "lagging significantly" behind other European states in supporting community ownership of wind-farm projects, according to a new report.
The report, which was presented yesterday to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, says community support and involvement are vital if Ireland is to develop its wind-energy resource to its full potential.
It calls for the formation of a renewable energy advisory group which would provide communities with advice and assistance in setting up projects.
The report, entitled To Catch The Wind: The Potential for Community Ownership of Wind Farms in Ireland, was drawn up by REP as a partnership initiative involving the Western Development Commission (WDC), Mayo Community Wind Energy Group and Brí Nua Community Wind Energy Group.
The guide shows how communities can attract investment and work towards financial returns of up to 10 per cent annually from wind farms.
The report's starting point was recognition that Ireland needs more wind farms and that community organisations in Denmark had played a crucial role in developing wind energy there. Community involvement here has been minimal, mainly due to cost and bureaucratic factors.
REP points out that, given current risky and uncertain market conditions, communities are likely to run into difficulties if they attempt to develop wind energy projects that are 100 per cent community-owned.
It identifies co-investment with commercial developers as the most promising option for groups and gives advice on choice of investment "vehicle", type of company structure and investment options.
Of some 29 wind farms running or under construction in Ireland by last November, only two small-scale developments can be regarded as community: on Inis Meain, Co Galway, where three 225Kw turbines are used to power a seawater desalination plant, and at Burtonport, Co Donegal, where the harbour's fishing co-operative has installed a 660Kw turbine to supply its fish- processing and freezing plant. Two community projects in train are at Bere island, Co Cork, and in Templederry, Co Tipperary.
Two groups of consultants, CSA Group Ltd and its German partner, BBB Umwelttechnik GmbH, were commissioned by REP to investigate whether Irish communities should become involved and, if so, how this should be done.
The research looked at Denmark, Germany and Britain and compared the international situation with challenges faced by investors in Ireland.