ESB, Bord na Mona to invest in Mayo wind farm

The ESB and Bord na M≤na will invest more than €300 million (£236 million) in a 210-turbine wind-farm in Co Mayo, the companies said yesterday. If the 320 megawatt (MW) project clears the planning process, it will be one of the world's largest, capable of supplying electricity to 200,000 homes.

It is thought the two State-owned companies are investing in the project on a 50:50 basis. They claimed the development would offset the equivalent of 200,000 tonnes of oil importation annually.

An acting senior planner in Mayo County Council, Ms Breda Gannon, said the planning application was received from Bord na M≤na Energy on October 31st. The company wants to change the use of 5,000 hectares of cutaway blanket bog at Bellacorick, where the ESB operates a peat-fired power station supplied from Bord na M≤na's bog.

The companies said the project would dovetail with the closure of those operations in 2004 and 2005. In addition, the existence of the power station means the site is already connected to the national electricity grid.

Bord na M≤na has operated a 21-turbine wind farm on the site since 1992 - the first such project in the State. The company is an 88.5 per cent shareholder in Renewable Energy Ireland, which owns the 6.45 MW farm.

In capacity terms, the latest project is almost 50 times that size, with 10 times as many turbines. Ms Gannon said: "It's certainly larger than any of the wind farms that would have been built before in this country."

If it goes ahead, the farm will be constructed over five years from late 2003, although planning permission has been sought for a 10-year period. However, it must first clear the planning process. There is a statutory period of two months in which the public can inspect the application before the county council makes its determination.

In addition, the submission may also be referred by objectors to An Bord Pleanβla. Given the scale of the project, this is likely. While wind turbines do not release gas harmful to the environment, some objectors claim they are unsightly.

Certain large-scale developments have been subject to rigorous scrutiny by local groups in Co Mayo, which are keen to protect the local environment. Plans by Enterprise Oil to develop a reception plant at Ballinaboy, Co Mayo, for gas from the Corrib field were referred to An Bord Pleanβla in August. This was the second location chosen by Enterprise after objections were raised to the first, at Pollathomas. Bord na M≤na and the ESB said 20 permanent jobs would be created when the farm was complete. It would employ 100 people in the construction and development phase.

Mr John Lynch of Bord na M≤na said the site was "ideal". The area is remote, with a flat open, aspect and the State-owned company has been keen to expand its development there.

Mr Dave O'Connor of the ESB's wind energy division said the company was committed to green energy.