Sir, – Eddie O'Connor (October 7th) takes issue with the contention that "wind energy will mean more expensive electricity for business and householders" . In 2010, Eirgrid commissioned the consultants Pöyry to report on "Low carbon generation options for the all-island market". This study estimated the costs and impacts in the year 2035 of six different mixtures of power generation technology using a complex model of the power market. In figure 37, page 48, it is clearly shown that the residential retail price for a high renewables (ie wind) portfolio was 15 per cent more expensive than just fossil fuel (ie gas), even though the wholesale price was lower.
Furthermore, in 2009, the European Wind Energy Association released a report called The Economics of Wind Energy, in which the authors find that for wind to be cost competitive with coal for electricity generation in Europe, a carbon tax of €35/t CO2 would be necessary (the current price is around €5). Different market assumptions would give different predictions in both cases.
There are many good reasons for us to embrace wind power, some of which will be particular to Ireland, but whether price at point of use is one of them, depends on who you ask.
Dr CRAIG MESKELL
School of Engineering,
Trinity College, Dublin 2.