Project Being Considered
Dernacart Wind Farm is a renewable energy project located in County Laois in an area south of Garrymore Bog and north of Mountmellick. As a part of decarbonising our energy system and delivering effective climate action, this proposal forms a natural step in the evolution of locally generated electricity.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
- 8 Turbines
- Distance to nearest turbine - 780m
- Max tip height of 185m
- The capacity to provide clean, green energy to approximately 30,000 homes
- In excess of 40MW of renewable energy for the Irish grid system
- Community Benefit Fund of approx. €250,000 annually
- No shadow flicker at any homes in the area
- 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, grid systems services, underground electrical and communications cables between turbines and an underground cable to connect the proposed project to the local substation
LOCATION
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PROJECT PROPOSAL
The area being considered is located to the northwest of Mountmellick, just south of Garrymore bog. This area includes the townlands of Dernacart, Forrest Upper and Forrest Lower.
As with all our projects, local appropriateness is a fundamental consideration along with careful site selection. Further optimisation of this project’s design is still in progress, so community feedback on the proposal is very welcome. You can find details on the final page of this brochure on how you can contact us.
The communities in the area around the proposed Dernacart Wind Farm have an opportunity to consider such a renewable project and how, if granted planning permission, this proposal could make a real difference to the local area.
From initial conversations, it has been noted that Mountmellick has a vision of developing initiatives that will allow the area to lead the way on low-carbon living. The fundamental principle of our community benefit packages is that we seek to work with local people to deliver increased environmental, economic and social sustainability to local communities. We would be very interested in hearing what ideas you have on how this wind farm could deliver the most benefit to you and your local area.
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.