First turbine installed at Offaly's biggest wind farm project

THE first turbine has been installed on what will be Offaly's biggest wind farm.

Wind farm developer SSE Renewables described the installation as a key moment in the construction of the 110 MW power generation facility which will have a total of 29 turbines.

The Yellow River wind farm is located on land between Croghan and Rhode and is expected to be commissioned early next year.

The first convoys of turbine components, delivered to the Offaly site from the Port of Galway, got underway in November 2023 with the installation programme beginning shortly after.

SSE Renewables said the deliveries, which are expected to continue until April 2024, are taking place between midnight and 4am to ensure minimum disruption to local residents. All turbines are expected to be installed by the end of summer 2024.

Yellow River has secured a contract for all of the site’s planned installed capacity of renewable energy power under the Irish Government’s latest RESS 3 auction round for new onshore wind farms. The contract is due to commence shortly after commissioning.

The company says that when complete, the wind farm will generate enough low-carbon renewable energy to power 66,000 homes annually and offset 65,000 metric tonnes of carbon per annum, contributing significantly to Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy targets.

The project is expected to support up to 80 full-time construction jobs at peak delivery.

Heather Donald, SSE Renewables’ onshore renewables development and construction director said: “Celebrating another milestone at Yellow River so soon after taking delivery of the first turbine components underlines the hard work by everyone involved in the installation programme. It is a pivotal moment in the project as our teams continue to press on with a busy schedule to safely install and deliver turbines at the site.

“Achieving this milestone is symbolic of our continued commitment to delivering greener, homegrown energy for Ireland which is needed now and in the future. Across SSE Renewables, we are spending around €4.5m a day on developing and building new clean power assets such as Yellow River Wind Farm. When completed next year, Yellow River will be able to generate in excess of 100MW of wind-powered electricity, contributing significantly to Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy targets.”

James Lappin, project manager for Nordex said: “The installation of the first turbine at Yellow River Wind Farm is a significant milestone in our commitment to providing innovative wind energy solutions that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future in Ireland. We are proud to partner with SSE Renewables on this 101 MW project and thank the local community for their continued support and patience during the delivery and installation phase. Our teams are working diligently to deliver a safe and timely project whilst also minimising any potential disruption. We look forward to a smooth conclusion to this stage of the project later this year.”

The maximum tip height of the turbine blades will be 166 metres (544 feet).

SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally.