There is enough wind power generated in Ireland to provide electricity to 370,000 homes, the national grid operator said yesterday.

ESB National Grid, which operates the system that distributes electricity in the Republic, said yesterday that 574 megawatts (mw) of wind-generated electricity had been connected to the national grid.

This is enough to supply an average of 370,000 households with electricity. The variable nature of wind energy means that the amount of electricity it produces is not constant.

However, an ESB National Grid spokesman said 370,000 homes was an average, and added that it could be more on occasion.

The news comes as pressure on oil costs continued to build yesterday, with crude hitting a record $73 a barrel on international markets.

While oil companies have already hit motorists with increases in petrol and diesel, electricity prices are also under pressure.

The ESB is likely to seek an increase of more than the rate of general inflation when it requests permission from the Government to boost its tariffs next month.

Wind farms have agreed contracts for a further 633mw and are offering another 77mw.

ESB National Grid said yesterday that between the existing capacity and the power coming on-stream, the Republic was positioned to meet its obligation to have 13.2 per cent of all electricity supplied from renewable resources.