ESB National Grid is confident the Stage will meet its EU obligations to provide 13.2 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The operator of the national grid said "this very significant level of wind energy can be achieved while maintaining system security and stability and protecting supplies to all customers".

ESB National Grid said the 307 megawatts (MW) of wind energy was currently installed and operational at 36 separate wind farm projects across the State. Between them, they have the capacity to provide sufficient power to meet the needs of 100,000 domestic customers.

That existing capability puts the State among the seven leading users of wind power as a percentage of total generating capacity across Europe.

A further 41 wind power plants are at various stages of construction. These are all expected to come on stream with the next year or two, adding 616MW of power to the grid capacity. At that stage, wind power would contribute roughly 10 per cent of the State's total electricity requirements, assuming sufficient wind conditions, the grid operator says.

ESB National Grid says that it has received "extensive further wind applications" which would put the State well on course to meet or exceed the 13.2 per cent 2010 target set down in an EU directive.

A spokesman said that as transmission system operator it was fully committed to facilitating increased levels of wind generation and "assisting the Government in meeting its renewable [ energy] targets".

The Minister for the Marine, Communications and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey has recently restated Government support for wind energy projects.

His comments followed a call from energy regulator Tom Reeves for the ending of special supports for wind energy projects which, he said, was impinging on competition generally in the sector and raising customers' bills.

Mr Dempsey said that he wanted to see the EU target being met "in full, as a minimum".

Mr Reeves had previously imposed a near six-month moratorium on new wind farms connecting to the national grid because of concerns by the grid operator about the "security and stability of the power system".

The concerns were understood to relate to the intermittent nature of wind power, which was creating problems for the grid.

The national grid spokesman said yesterday that "huge progress has been made on overcoming technical challenges presented by the unique intermittent nature of wind generation".