A co-operative in Co Clare has today announced plans to build one the country's largest wind farms.
West Clare Renewable Energy (WCRE) is hoping to construct 30 3MW wind turbines on the slopes of Mount Callan, a 391-metre high mountain located between Ennis and Miltown Malbay, if it secures planning approval and permission for grid connection.
According to the company, the €200 million project would be capable of producing sufficient electricity to power every home and business in Co Clare, as well as meeting the Limerick Clare Energy Agency’s 2010 targets for emissions reductions and renewable energy production. The community-based scheme is expected to provide up to 300 jobs during construction.
WCRE is made up of West Clare Renewables and 30 farm families who collectively own 3,000 acres of mainly upland properties on Mount Callan. The landowners have a majority shareholding in the company and have also included a significant community fund aspect to the project.
Company chairman Padraig Howard said Mount Callan provided the ideal combination of wind resource, transmission lines and available land for wind farms, and that an environmental impact study is to be submitted with the planning application.
He said Clare is the only county on the Western seaboard of Ireland with the electricity grid capacity to accommodate the additional renewable energy power. “We are confident that we have devised a scheme that will greatly benefit the local community and generate significant amounts of renewable energy, which will power thousands of homes without generating any harmful carbon emissions” Mr Howard said.
He said the co-operative approach in the project would maximise the economic and environmental benefits for local farming families and the community.
“The concept of developing a wind farm on Mount Callan has been investigated by local landowners for over 15 years in order to supplement farm incomes and retain the next generation on the land. Various wind farm development approaches have been looked at and progressed by and on behalf of the farming families, many of whom have been in the area for over five generations.”
Local landowner John Talty said the wind farm project would ensure the economic sustainability of the local community and wider economy for the next three decades at least and noted local people would be given first preference in relation to construction work and full-time employment once the wind farm was operational.
Pat Stephens, manager of the Limerick Clare Energy Agency also welcomed today's announcement. The Limerick Clare Energy Agency, established with investment from Limerick and Clare County Councils, works to provide energy-efficiency solutions to organisations.
Renewable electricity generation accounted for 9.4 per cent of gross electricity consumption in 2007, with wind energy comprising 71 per cent of this, according to Sustainable Energy Ireland, the national energy agency.
Lobby group the Irish Wind Energy Association reports there are are 113 wind farms and 1,032 turbines online and operational in 21 counties on the island of Ireland.