Construction starts on Offaly Bord na Móna windfarm

Construction work has got underway on a new windfarm project in Offaly.

Bord na Móna is behind the latest development, at Cloncreen, near Clonbullogue, in north east Offaly.

The development consists of the construction of 21 turbines with a blade tip height of 170 metres.

The site of the proposed development is in the townlands of Cloncreen, Clongarret, Esker More, Rathvilla or Rathclonbrackan, Ballinrath, Ballynakill, Ballykilleen, Ballina and Ballinagar.

The villages of Clonbullogue and Rhode are located approximately two kilometres south-east and seven kilometres north-west of the site, respectively.

The company said the €100m project would be able to supply 55,000 homes with renewable energy per annum.

Announcing the start of construction, Bord na Móna Chief Executive, Tom Donnellan said: “Economic recovery, future investment and job creation in Ireland will all be powered with a strong supply of renewable energy. The start of construction here in Cloncreen underscores Bord na Móna’s leadership role in the delivery of the nation’s green energy supply using our proven capability in this area and our 80,000 hectare (200,000 acre) estate. We are now on track to be able to supply approximately one third of Irish homes with renewable energy by 2030. This will significantly help Ireland deal with the climate emergency, cut carbon emissions and deliver on green energy targets.”

The project will create up to 100 jobs during the construction phase and is due to start supplying renewable energy to the national grid in early 2022.

While Bord na Móna’s landholding at Cloncreen extends to approximately 960 hectares (c.2,400 acres), the wind farm will have a permanent footprint on just 4 per cent of the site area.

Bord na Móna has also committed to deliver a range of benefits for the local community including the provision of 20km of walkways and cycleways through the rehabilitated peatland site.