Planning sought in south County Roscommon for four wind turbines with blade tip height of up to 185 metres
Planning has been sought for four wind turbines in south County Roscommon with a tip height of up to 185 metres. Photo: Stock image
A planning application has been lodged for four wind turbines in south Roscommon which would be among the tallest ever built in Ireland.
The application, submitted by EDF Renewables Ireland, seeks a ten year permission for four turbines on a 27.4 hectare site across the townlands of Carrowkeel, Longfield, Kilmass, Grange and Rahara.
According to planning documents submitted to Roscommon County Council, the turbines will have “an overall blade tip height of 184.55 metres (m) to 185m”, with rotor diameters of up to 163 metres.
The developers say that, if approved, the wind farm would have a generating capacity of around 24MW, producing enough electricity to power approximately 16,000 homes.
The proposed development includes a 38kV substation, a battery energy storage system, 3.1km of new and upgraded internal access roads, a 36 metre meteorological mast, and the felling of 5.5 hectares of forestry to facilitate construction. A 35 year operational lifespan is being sought for the project.
EDF also intends to lodge a separate future application for an 18.8 kilometre underground grid connection to the consented 110kV substation at Taduff, as well as temporary works along a turbine delivery route stretching from Galway City to south Roscommon.
A community engagement report submitted with the application states that 167 households lie within 2 kilometres of the site. Each household was contacted during the consultation process, and door to door visits were conducted at all homes within 1 kilometre. Letters of consent were obtained from nine individual landowners.
The project is being assessed under the new fast track provisions of the EU Renewable Energy Directive III, with the application undergoing a statutory “completeness check” under Section 37JA of the Planning and Development Act. The developer notes that some turbine dimensions remain unconfirmed, with the permitted range set out on the site notice.
If approved, the turbines would rival the 21 185-metre wind turbines at Statkraft’s Cushaling Wind Farm on the Kildare–Offaly border – currently the tallest operational turbines in the State.
Submissions can be made until May 21. Roscommon County Council is due to make a decision by July 25.