November 28, 2013
Ireland

Energy firm plans €100m wind farm

Paul Melia | Irish Independent | 28 November 2013 | www.independent.ie

Permission for one of the largest wind farms ever constructed has been sought by a Wexford green energy company.

Green Wind Energy plans to build a 32-turbine windfarm across a 1,000-hectare site in the midlands, and expects to build out the project over the next four years.

The company has sought permission from An Bord Pleanala to develop the Yellow River wind farm on a site located just north of Rhode in Co Offaly.

If approved, the €100m project will produce at least 96 megawatts (MW) of power for Irish customers. 1MW of electricity powers about 1,000 homes.

The move comes after two companies announced plans in recent months to build large-scale wind farms in the midlands.

Mainstream Renewable Power plans 450 wind turbines across seven counties, a project that has since been delayed, while Element Power Ireland plans its ‘Green Wire’ project, which would involve 40 wind farms across five midland counties, totalling 750 turbines.

Both projects are designed to export electricity to the UK, which faces energy shortages over the coming years, but the Green Wind Energy project announced yesterday is for the domestic market.

A public hearing into the project is likely.

The developers said they hoped to secure planning permission by spring next year, and that work should start on site early in 2015.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/28/energy-firm-plans-e100m-wind-farm/