Wind farm plan for Delvin area

One of Europe’s largest renewable energy providers has plans to construct a new wind farm in north Westmeath.

Statkraft Ireland wants to construct eight 180m wind turbines on an 80-hectare site between Clonmellon and Delvin that straddles the Meath border.

The proposed development, Knocknarragh Windfarm, has been designated a strategic infrastructure development by An Bord Pleanála as it will have the potential capacity to generate more than 50MW of energy to the electrical grid every year, enough to power 36,000 homes.

According to Statkraft, the development will create 185 jobs during the construction phase and 21 full-time positions when it is operational.

Statkraft says the development will generate no shadow flicker and the turbines will be located at least 700 metres from the nearest houses. If the project is given the go-ahead by the planning body, Statkraft says local community groups could receive €4.5m (€300,000 a year) over a 15-year period through its Community Benefit Fund.

As part of its pre-planning process, Statkraft intends to erect a temporary 80m meteorological mast in the townlands of Cavestown and Rosmead.

In a letter sent to residents living near the site of the proposed development after the first round of community engagement in the spring, Statkraft thanked people “for engaging with us openly, providing valuable feedback and challenging the design and evolution of the project”.

“During the recent community engagement, many households openly discussed the challenges around the cost of energy and the overall need for energy security in this country, coupled with strong views on the environment and the need to tackle climate change in an open and responsible way, so that every community is seen to be contributing.

“We also appreciate that there are some people who may be apprehensive about the visual aspects of the proposed development, but we will continue to engage with the local community people to discuss all aspects of this proposal.”

Statkraft is the third renewable energy developer planning to construct a wind farm in the wider Delvin area.

Last year, Bracklyn Windfarm Ltd, a subsidiary of Galetech, received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for a nine-turbine wind farm on a 273-hectare stretch of the Bracklyn Farm Estate at Ballagh, Billinstown, Ballynacar and Bracklyn.

The Bord na Mona application for 26 turbines on land south of Ballivor is still under consideration.