EDF Renewables is announcing new details about its proposed Kilsallagh Wind Farm, ahead of a public exhibition in Bangor Erris Parish Hall on Tuesday 28 March.
The project, located in a forested area to the northeast of Slieve Carr, will comprise 13 turbines and have a generating capacity of c.80MW, enough to power the equivalent of c 50,000 homes.* If the project receives planning permission and is constructed, a Community Benefit Fund will be established, to support positive local initiatives and activities.
The turbines, which will be located in a forested area north east of Slieve Carr, approximately 8km southeast of Bangor Erris, will have tip heights of up to 200m. Following consultation with the local community, the project team intends to submit a planning application and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report in support of the project to An Bord Pleanála in Q2 2023.
Subject to planning permission, the wind farm is expected to be operational in 2028. The project will also include access tracks, a substation, battery energy storage, a temporary construction compound, a permanent meteorological mast, underground cabling and a grid connection which links the wind farm to the national electricity grid.
Jenny Howard, Head of Development at EDF Renewables Ireland, said: "We're looking forward to hosting the local community at the public exhibition, updating them on progress to date and getting their feedback on the project.
"The team has been hard at work completing a number of environmental studies and assessing the geotechnical and other conditions at the site. The project will benefit from Mayo's excellent wind resources and will make a positive contribution to increasing the amount of electricity generated in Ireland from renewable sources.
"We'll also be speaking to residents about the Community Benefit Fund on offer, and how funds from this can benefit local initiatives and activities."
The public exhibition will be held at Bangor Erris Parish Hall from 3pm to 8pm on Tuesday 28 March. The exhibition will feature information about the project and the environmental surveys completed to date, project timeline, Community Benefit Fund, and other aspects of wind energy. There is no need to register in advance and all are welcome to attend. A virtual exhibition will also be available to view at www.edf-re.ie/our-sites/Kilsallagh.
To find out more about Kilsallagh Wind Farm please visit www.edf-re.ie/our-sites/Kilsallagh or contact the project team at kilsallaghwindfarm@edf-re.ie.
Notes
* SEAI Energy in Ireland Report, December 2020, Section.7.3.1, Table.33
For further information please contact:
David Clancy, External Affairs Manager, EDF Renewables Ireland
Email: david.clancy@edf-re.ie
Phone: 087 172 2762
About EDF Renewables Ireland
EDF Renewables Ireland is part of one of the world's largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in renewable energy projects is reducing costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits to communities.
EDF Renewables Ireland's team has a wealth of experience in bringing complex development projects to fruition, across onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and battery storage technology, and is supported by more than 400 colleagues in the UK.
In 2020 we acquired 50% of Codling Wind Park, a major offshore wind farm which will be located off the coast of Co. Wicklow, with a dedicated team who have begun developing the project, and 100% of Wexford Solar, which includes eight solar projects across Ireland. In total we have an Irish onshore development pipeline of almost 1GW.
In the UK, EDF Renewables has an operating portfolio of 36 wind farms and two battery storage units (together totalling more than 1GW).
EDF Renewables operates in more than 20 countries around the world.
