Plans submitted for major 46-turbine wind farm on Kildare/Offaly border
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Plans for a major 46-turbine wind farm on the Kildare/Offaly border have been submitted by Bord na Móna.
The application was submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála by applicant Bord na Móna Powergen Ltd. (BnM) on Friday, October 30.
The proposed development consists of 46 turbines and two 40m-high meteorological masts, with 18 turbines located in Offaly and the remaining 28 in Kildare.
The estimated tip height of 19 turbines will reach 200m, while the remaining 27 will reach 220m. The wind farm will have an approximate generating capacity of 322MW.
The project will also include 220kV grid connection infrastructure, connecting the wind farm to the national grid via a loop-in from the existing Maynooth-Dunstown 220kV overhead line in the townland of Killybegs, Co. Kildare.
The site is located approximately 2.2km south-southeast of Edenderry, 1.7km east of Clonbullogue, 2km north of Rathangan and 3.3km west of Allenwood in Kildare.
Part of the proposed development site is located within the Allen Bog Group, which comprises 14 bogs along the Offaly/Kildare border. These include Ticknevin, Glashabaun North, Glashabaun South, Codd 1, Codd 2, Ballydermot North, Ballydermot South, Blackriver, Lullymore, Lullybeg, Barnaran, Killina, Derrybrennan and Lodge.
The applicant is seeking a ten-year planning permission and an operational period of 35 years for the wind turbines and meteorological masts, commencing from the date of full commissioning of the turbines. Permanent planning permission is being sought for all other works.
The application notes that the site was previously subject to industrial-scale peat extraction, which permanently ceased in June 2020.
Draft plans for the new Ballydermot Wind Farm were shared in 2020, with the current application outlining a series of consultations with local residents between October 2020 and 2026.
Between June and August 2021, an updated Project Information Pack was delivered to approximately 1,014 homes in the areas surrounding the development. A further information pack was delivered to approximately 800 homes within 2km of the proposed turbine locations between August 19 and September 15, 2022.
The application also outlines plans for a Near Neighbour Fund and a Community Benefit Fund estimated to provide approximately €24 million in community benefits over the first 15 years of operation.
In documents submitted as part of the application, BnM references the Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 (OCDP), noting that:
"A renewable energy development will support Offaly in realising and achieving its strategic vision and objectives to create a sustainable, low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy and society by generating and providing c. 322MW of renewable wind energy."
A decision on the application is due by October 28, 2027.