Project Being Considered
The permitted Bilboa Wind Farm consists of 5 turbines and it is expected that these will have the capacity to power circa 10,000 homes with clean, green, renewable energy.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
- 5 turbines
- 520m and upwards – distance from nearest houses in the community to the nearest turbine
- The maximum height would be up to 136.5m
- The capacity to provide clean, green energy to c.10,000 homes
- All cables would be underground
- There will be a substation associated with the wind farm
- Associated works will include access tracks, turbine foundations and hardstanding areas, drainage works, temporary site compound, underground electrical and communications cables between turbines and an underground cable to connect the proposed project to a substation
LOCATION
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PROJECT PROPOSAL
The permitted Bilboa Wind Farm consists of 5 turbines and it is expected that these will have the capacity to power c.10,000 homes with clean, green, renewable energy. The project will also incorporate a significant community benefit fund which assuming RESS (Renewable Energy Support Scheme) support, will form in the region of €78,000 for the duration of the scheme.
It is important to Statkraft that our projects are considered in terms of the climate challenges being addressed, and that they are appropriate for the area, work well where they are located and are delivered as part of a just transition. They will also bring real benefits to local people and support the economic, social and environmental sustainability of those local areas.
The need for this project
The impacts of climate change on our world are indisputable. We are all being challenged to consider the role we play in climate action and how we can reduce our reliance on costly and polluting imported fossil fuels. The world is getting warmer, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. We cannot stop climate change, but we can take action to address it. Renewable energy development is a vital part of that action.
The energy price hikes experienced across Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine have put huge pressure on households and businesses, and exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis. Our electricity demands are also on the rise and providing sufficient supplies to avoid potential power shortages has become ever more challenging.
Furthermore, Ireland's energy security has come into sharp focus. Having our own secure, sustainable supply will shield us from global market energy price increases and continue to help protect families and businesses from the worst effects of a crisis caused by our reliance on fossil fuels. We can tap into our own natural resources and roll out clean, affordable energy that won’t break the bank.
Electricity generation
Green electricity has brought significant benefits to areas across rural Ireland for many years. How we generate electricity in Ireland is becoming less reliant on fossil fuels, such as peat and coal, and transitioning to renewable forms of energy. This transition is our best way of taking effective action on climate change.
The development of renewable energy projects, such as wind farms, brings significant potential for local economic and societal gains. Areas that develop renewable energy projects will have the potential to benefit from substantial community benefit funds. At Statkraft, we believe that local communities should play a major role in determining how these funds should be used to maximise the benefit for the local area.
The communities in the area of the wind farm project have an opportunity to consider how such a renewable project could make a real difference to their locality. The fundamental principle of our community benefits packages is that we seek to work with local people to deliver increased environmental, economic and social sustainability to their communities.
We are very interested in hearing what ideas you have on how this wind farm could deliver the most benefit to you and your local area.