Bord na Mona Plc (Bord na Mona) intends to develop a portfolio of electricity generating plants, including wind farms, flexible gas fired generation and peaking units. In line with this, Bord na Mona has selected its existing cutaway bog at Mountlucas in County Offaly for the development of a new wind farm. The proposed wind farm will have a generating capacity of 80 MW and will comprise of 32 wind turbines, underground cables between the turbines and a 110 kV electricity substation.
The wind farm will also comprise of access trackways and crane hard-standings.
The company has been involved in milled peat production operations at the site since the 1950s and peripheral parts of the bog are still in active peat production. Those areas of the site that are still in active peat production will not be affected by the development of the wind farm, and peat production will continue as normal.
When operational it will improve the geographical distribution of wind energy facilities nationally and hence contribute to more balanced input of wind energy to the grid in support of the Government’s 40% target for electricity from renewable energy sources. This will help to ensure that by 2020, 40% of electricity generated in the state will come from renewable sources. An application for connection of the wind farm to the national grid has been made to EirGrid. It is included in the Gate 3 list of projects to be processed for connection and it is scheduled to get an offer for connection to the system in early 2011.
A planning application is currently being prepared for the project and will be submitted to Offaly County Council. As part of the planning process, an environmental impact study (EIS) is being carried out into the potential impacts of the proposed development on the local environment. Public information sessions are also being held in Daingean and Walsh Island on June 23 and June 24, 2009 respectively.
It is expected that the construction of the new wind farm will take place over an 18-24 month period with up to 30 workers employed on the project at peak. Once in operation the farm will support a small number of operation and maintenance jobs. When operational, the farm will generate enough electricity to supply the needs of around 45,000 homes with green electricity and it will prevent the emission every year of 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases. In doing so, it will help to combat climate change and contribute to the country achieving its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets as well as contributing to the achievement of the EU’s mandatory renewable energy target set for Ireland.