Turbotricity

Grid-Tied Systems are to get a feed-in tarriff. When we started this project to design a wind turbine, we knew that without a feed-in tariff, the market in Ireland was going to be limited. We figured we could put in the work on designing a turbine, sell it mainly in the UK and mainland Europe, but we might have to wait for a feed-in tariff before it would really take off in Ireland.

We might not have to wait very long…

At long last, ESB has put forward proposals to buy power from wind turbines and other micro-generators. The downside? They propose an interim tariff of just 9 cents per kw hr.

The Commissioner for Energy Regulation has invited submissions from the public between now and January 16th. You can read about the CER request for submission and make a submission here.

In making a submission, you might like to know that in many parts of the UK and Northern Ireland, the feed-in tariff is 10p sterling per KwHr and that a further 4p is paid for Renewable Obligations Certificates (ROCs) whereby the carbon credited is purchased for all energy produced by the wind turbine (including electricity used by the customers themselves).

By comparison, 9 cents is a pretty derisory offer but it is possible that if enough comments are received by CER, then they miught increase this figure.

So lets try to persuade the CER that 9 cents is not a reasonable price to pay for microgenerators. Reasons might include;

• This is only slightly higher than the 7.5c rate paid to large wind farms
• There is already a 12c feed-in tariff for offshore power. Micro generators should be regarded as an early-stage technology and supported in the same way
• Unlike wind farms and other generation systems, micro-generators do not create a requirement to expand the grid because their electricity is produced and used locally.
• Ireland could be a leading innovator in micro wind power, but there must be attractive feed-in tariffs to support this.
• Other countries such as Spain and Germany pay as much as 45c to 50c per kw hr for electricity to support the development of solar photovoltaic or other industries.
• Any other arguments you might have (there are loads of reasons when you think about it).

The announcement by ESB is a move in the right direction after years of getting n’owt. But with some work, the offer could be improved on….