clifford and clancy using a detailed model of the allisland single electricity market show that the wind generation expected in will reduce irelands wholesale market cost of electricity by around eur million this is approximately equivalent to the sum of the public service obligation financing the feedin tariff for wind cost estimated as eur million and the increased constraint or balancing costs incurred due to wind in the reduction of irelands dependence on fossil fuels and the c emission cuts cost nothing in this case despite the persistence of the support scheme which ensures recovery of the longterm costs of electricity generation from the wind even when the market prices are low