The development of Cloncreen Wind Farm involves an investment by Bord na Móna of over €100m in low carbon electricity generation infrastructure in Co. Offaly. The project will make a significant contribution to the achievement of Ireland’s 80% renewable electricity target by 2030. It was one of the largest projects to clear in the RESS-1 auction.

Cloncreen Wind Farm forms part of Bord na Móna’s accelerated development pipeline of renewable energy and other assets. It will play a significant role in the company’s Brown to Green Strategy. A key objective of this strategy involves using the existing landbank to continue to underpin Ireland’s energy independence by developing green, sustainable energy sources to assist with Ireland’s commitment- as part of the Climate Action Plan - to achieve 80% renewable electricity by 2030.

The wind farm consists of 21 no. V136-3.45 MW Vestas turbines that have an overall tip height of 170m. The wind farm has an installed generating capacity of 75MW which will generate a volume of electricity equivalent to the average annual electrical demand of approximately 55,000 homes per annum*.

Location

The wind farm is located on Cloncreen bog in eastern Co. Offaly, approximately 4.5 kilometres southwest of Edenderry and 4km east of Bord na Móna’s 84 MW Mountlucas Wind Farm. The villages of Clonbullogue and Rhode are located approximately 2.0 km southeast and 7 km north-west of the site, respectively.

Cloncreen bog comprises of approximately 960 hectares (c. 2,400 acres) and was formerly utilised for peat harvesting by Bord na Móna to provide fuel for the Edenderry peat fired power station. The maximum permanent footprint of the development measures 40.1 hectares, which represents approximately 4% of the site.

* based on average household consumption of 4,200kwh.