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Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Four new offshore wind farms get approval from Irish government
Yesterday, the government announced the success of four out of six offshore wind farm applications to the State’s first wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. They are Sceirde Rocks off Galway’s coast, Dublin Array, Codling Wind Park off Wicklow and the North Irish Sea Array off the coast of Dublin, Meath and Louth. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan welcomed the “competitive” wholesale cost secured during the ORESS 1 auction – an average of €86.05per . . . Complete story »
Ryan’s much-heralded wind energy would be world’s most expensive at first auction
Last year, to great razzmatazz, Minister Eamon Ryan announced that opportunities to generate energy from Ireland’s wind was going to go to auction in 2023. Going to auction means that a route to market would be established for an energy provider – typically in relation to renewable energy which is produced or largely subsidised by the state. Potential bidders will compete against each other to provide renewable energy, with the government looking at the cost per megawatt hour proposed, and . . . Complete story »
Longford residents opposed to wind turbine development
Longford residents are objecting to a proposed wind turbine development. Natural Forces Renewable Energy Ltd (Natural Forces) have lodged a planning application with Longford County Council seeking to construct one Enercon E138 Wind Energy Converter on an 81m tower with an electrical rating of 4.2MW and an overall tip height of 149.38m at Lissanore, Co Longford. Lissanore is located between Edgeworthstown and Lisryan, and local residents have expressed ‘huge concern’ about the proposal. They are unhappy with the ‘excessive height’ . . . Complete story »
Trouble brewing with nearshore turbines as Irish offshore wind energy reaches launch phase
Locals and campaigners warn of fast-tracking development and point to alternatives they say can yield the same benefits at a lower environmental cost. Ireland is at the point of scale-up of its vast offshore wind resources. The green light is months rather than years away for the first tranche of wind farms. Some communities will soon see renewable energy progress in the form of what one campaign group calls “mountain-high turbines”. The Government has issued marine area consents (MACs) for . . . Complete story »
Call for ‘immediate pause’ to County Derry wind farm planning application
An independent candidate in the upcoming council elections is calling for an ‘immediate pause’ to a planning application for a proposed wind farm near Dungiven. ABO Wind NI Ltd have submitted a planning application to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to erect a number of 140 metre high wind turbines in the townlands of Brishey and Curraghlane, approximately 4.8km east of Dungiven. However Niall Murphy says he has ‘very serious concerns’ about the way the company’s pre-application consultation was . . . Complete story »
Ireland’s fragile marine ecosystems at risk from wind power growth, Coastwatch warns
Ireland’s fragile marine ecosystems risk being subjected to increased pressures up to 2030 as offshore wind energy (OWE) is rapidly scaled up with fixed-foundation turbines that inevitably will be close to shore, according to Coastwatch. The environmental group strongly supports the push to develop renewable energy, acknowledging offshore wind is an important element of Ireland’s switch from fossil fuels, and recognises “great strides and efforts in planning, research, legal, and funding being devoted to it”. However, it warns: “As more . . . Complete story »
Wind farms to get paid for electricity they do not supply
Wind farms will be paid for electricity they cannot supply under the terms of the Government’s latest renewable energy aid scheme, it has emerged. Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, this week announced details of the third onshore wind Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS 3) designed to attract wind farms capable of generating up to 3,500 megawatts of electricity in total. A new term included in RESS 3 will compensate wind farms when the system “curtails” or . . . Complete story »
Campaigners ‘deeply concerned’ about wind farm plan with turbines reaching up to 200 metres in height
The Delvin-Raharney-Ballivor Wind Action Group has said it is “deeply concerned” at the planning permission application by Bord na Móna for up to 26 turbines of 200m in height. The group was strongly opposed to the Bracklyn Wind Farm development holding a number of public meetings and lodging submissions against the proposal. However, the application was ultimately approved by An Bord Pleanála last year. Daryl Kennedy, Chairperson of the Delvin-Raharney-Ballivor Wind Action Group claimed that they had already seen through . . . Complete story »
Residents step up campaign to oppose a major wind farm development
Residents in West Donegal are to step up their campaign to oppose a major wind farm development in their area that could see wind turbines twice the height of the Statue of Liberty erected in their area. Danish multinational power company Ørsted and joint venture company FuturEnergy Ireland (Coillte and ESB) have submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for 19 200m (656ft) high industrial wind turbines, pylons and a new substation on ten square kilometres between Doochary and the . . . Complete story »
SSE Renewables exploring new wind farm off Kerry coast
SSE Renewables is looking into building a large wind farm off the Co. Kerry coast. The sister firm of Irish electricity provider SSE Airtricity said it was seeking an investigative foreshore licence to do survey work for a possible new offshore wind farm, near Tarbert. The new offshore wind project could generate up to 1 gigawatt (or 1,000 megawatts) of renewable energy, SSE estimates. It amounts to one-fifth of the offshore wind power the Government aims to develop by 2030. . . . Complete story »
