Ireland's largest wind farm has entered commercial operation and is now Ireland’s largest and best performing wind farm, generating more green energy than any other wind generation site on the island.
Galway Wind Park has been developed by SSE and Coillte at a joint investment cost of over €280m, with €90m contributed to Irish Gross Domestic Product during construction, and €20m spent with local suppliers and contractors. The power generated at Galway Wind Park will be now provided to SSE’s retail arm SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest green energy provider.
Located south-west of Oughterard, Galway Wind Park comprises 58 Siemens 3MW wind turbines, each rated to the highest international standard and specifically engineered for the prevailing wind conditions at the Connemara site to optimise generation output performance.
SSE and Coillte forecast that Galway Wind Park will produce over 600GWh of green energy each year – enough renewable energy to power over 140,000 Irish homes. This means Galway Wind Park can power more than the equivalent of every home in Galway city and county.
Furthermore, Galway Wind Park will boast a multi-million euro community fund aimed at recognising the support, cooperation and needs of local people. The fund, currently being designed by SSE and Coillte in consultation with local communities, will be launched in the coming months and will operate for the lifetime of the wind farm.
Commenting on the project, Managing Director at SSE Ireland, Stephen Wheeler said, "The development of Galway Wind Park demonstrates how two industry leaders can join forces to deliver the country’s largest onshore wind farm. As Ireland’s largest single generator and provider of renewable energy, we’re extremely proud at SSE that Galway Wind Park will make the biggest single contribution of any renewable energy site towards greening our national energy supply and decarbonising power generation across the island."
He added, "We’re equally proud that over its lifetime Galway Wind Park will help transform the local and regional economy and communities through a multi-million euro community fund."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
