Overview and Timeline

Project Overview

The proposed Derryadd Wind Farm will be developed on cutaway peatlands on Derryadd, Derryaroge and Lough Bannow bogs in south Co. Longford. The three bog areas on which the proposed wind farm will be located are generally adjacent to the communities of Derraghan, Keenagh, Killashee and Lanesborough.

 

 

Why is Bord na Móna submitting a new planning application for the proposed Derryadd Wind Farm?

Bord na Móna maintains the view that the most appropriate climate change solution and optimum land use for the site continues to be a project combining wind energy, amenity and rehabilitation. The development of a wind farm on these bogs will compliment other land uses within the site and across the wider Mountdillion Bog Group, including the company’s peatland rehabilitation programme and ongoing amenity development in the area, which includes the Mid Shannon Wilderness Park.

 

How many turbines are proposed for the development?

The final layout comprises of 22 wind turbines. Apart from the turbines themselves, the other principal components of the wind farm are the foundations to support the turbine towers, access, crane hard standings, underground cables between the turbines, an on-site electricity substation and an electrical connection to the appropriate node on the National Grid.

To view the Final Wind Turbine Layout Map, please click here.

 

What height are the proposed turbines and how close are they to people’s homes?

The proposed turbines will have an overall blade tip height of 190 metres above ground level. (Please refer to the infrastructure map  for further detail).

The exact make and model of the turbine will be dictated by a competitive tender process, post planning and it will not exceed the maximum tip height of 190 metres above ground level.

 

What setback distance has been applied from houses?

The Final Wind Turbine Layout has been designed with a minimum setback distance of 760m to the nearest house from a turbine.

This complies with the Draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines (2019), which proposes a setback distance of 4 times the tip height between a wind turbine and the nearest residential property, subject to a mandatory minimum distance of 500 metres.

 

When will a planning application be lodged?

It is envisaged that a planning application will be lodged in late summer /early autumn 2023 for the proposed project.

It is intended to submit the planning permission application directly to An Bord Pleanála, under the provisions of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. An initial approach is therefore being made to An Bord Pleanála seeking a determination in relation to the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) status, or otherwise, of the proposed wind farm development.

 

What land area will the proposed wind farm occupy?

Only approximately 3% of this area will be used for turbine bases, crane hard-standings and access tracks, so much of the land area will not be required by the development. This means that it can be utilised for other purposes, such as biodiversity and amenity.

 

What amenities will the proposed wind farm provide?

The proposed Derryadd Wind Farm will include the construction of new access roads to install and maintain the wind turbines. 

 The proposed wind farm will consist of approximately 25km of internal road network, approximately 18km of which is intended for amenity use when the wind farm becomes operational. An additional c.7.5km of dedicated amenity trackway is also proposed to provide connectivity to local roads and allow local access to the wind farm amenity. The additional amenity track will also provide linkages between the wind farm internal road network and the royal canal greenway (to the east), the Corlea Visitor Centre and amenity areas (to the south), and wider proposed Mid-Shannon Wilderness Park Area.

 

What local benefits will this proposed development provide?

The development of the proposed Derryadd Wind Farm will support up to 100 -120  jobs at peak construction and supporting a number of long term, high quality technical jobs in operations and maintenance.

Local communities will also benefit from additional rates paid to the Local Authority which support the provision of local services, a community benefit scheme, upgrading of road infrastructure in the vicinity of the proposed Wind Farm (as required), payment of taxes from the project, and dividends from Bord na Móna to the State, and indirect employment created through the sub-supply of a wide range of products and services.

 

Where will the power from the proposed wind farm go?

The electricity generated by the turbines will be transmitted directly onto Ireland’s National Grid which is managed by EirGrid for distribution around the country. The proposed development will make a significant contribution to Irelands Climate Action Plan 2021, which has set a target of 8GW of onshore wind capacity by 2030.

 

How can I provide feedback on the proposed development to Bord na Móna?

We encourage feedback through a number of channels including:


• Through the Project’s Community Liaison Officer James. For his contact details, click
 here

• Via the project’s dedicated email address: derryaddwindfarm@bnm.ie