Project Being Constructed
A natural step in the evolution of locally generated electricity
An area centred around the townlands of Moanvane, Kilcooney, Bogtown Kilcappagh, Ballykean & Enaghan. in Co. Offaly, was identified as having the potential for the development of a suitable and appropriate wind farm development. Design works, surveys and consultation with the local community were carried out with the view to identifying how a project would work best in this area and bring the most benefit to the local community.
A grid connection application was submitted and has been granted. This will allow the wind farm to connect to the Irish electricity grid system and will involve the townlands of Rathfeston, Ballykean, Ballyduff, Raheenbeg, Kilcooney, Ballintogher, Gorteenkeel and Ballynakill, Co. Offaly. For more information on this please visit the Grid Connection tab.
We would like you to tell us how you think this proposal could work best and how it could deliver real benefits for the local area.
This proposal has the potential to assist in delivering initiatives that would ensure that locally generated electricity will support local communities providing increased economic, environmental and social sustainability.
Moanvane Wind Farm at a Glance:
- The project would supply renewable electricity for the Irish Electricity Grid System for use in Ireland
- It will be comprised of up to 12 wind turbines
- With an output in the region of 60MW, it will have the capacity to provide green energy to over 35,000 Irish homes
- The maximum tip height – 169m
- There will be an onsite substation
- All cabling will be placed underground
- Material for the construction of the roads and hardstanding areas will be sourced as locally as possible in order to minimise the number of traffic movements
- Associated works will include access tracks, turbine foundations and hardstanding areas, a local borrow pit, drainage works, temporary site compound, underground electrical and communications cables between turbines and an underground cable to connect to the Grid
- Rates payments of up to €500,000 per annum payable to Offaly County Council. Rates paid by renewal energy projects would reduce the pressure on local authorities to do so.
- An inclusive Community Benefits package (based on feedback from those in the local area) has been developed which will allow a wide range of individuals and organisations to benefit from the proposed wind farm. This includes:
- An Amenity Walkway and Cycle Track – It is proposed to develop a 6km Walkway and Cycle track that would be open to the general public
- Direct benefit – for houses within 1km
- Greener Homes Scheme
- Household Dividend
- Community Benefit Fund – A multi-million euro fund would be available for local community groups and projects.
- Approximately 72 jobs will be created during the construction, operation and maintenance phases of the proposed project
LOCATION
Local Electricity Generation
Locally generated electricity has brought many benefits to many areas in rural Ireland for many years. A significant number of jobs were brought to these areas through the harvesting of peat and there has been a significant economic gain from the production of electricity. Electricity generation in Ireland is transitioning and the energy that we are using is switching from fossil fuels including peat and coal to renewable forms of energy. This transition is our best way of taking effective action on climate change.
The potential to extract local economic and societal gain remains with the development of renewable energy projects such as wind farms. Areas that develop renewable energy projects will have the potential to benefit from substantial community benefit funds which will often equate to multi-million-euro investments in local rural areas. At Statkraft, we believe that local communities should play a major role in determining how these funds should be used to maximise the benefit in the local area.
Locally generated electricity can continue to support locally-based employment and locally-based community groups!
The communities in the area around the proposed Moanvane Wind Farm have an opportunity to consider such a renewable project and how this proposal could make a real difference to the local area. The fundamental principle of our community benefit packages is that we seek to work with local people to deliver increased environmental, economic and social sustainability to local communities. We would be very interested in hearing what ideas you have on how this wind farm could deliver the most benefit to you and your local area.
We would like you to tell us how you feel the local area could benefit from this proposal
The proposed wind farm has the potential to assist in delivering initiatives to ensure that locally generated electricity will support the local communities. This proposal has the potential to provide the youth in the area with a better future and to extract local gain that can provide benefit for all.
