9-turbine wind farm proposed at Tifeaghna ( Mt Garrett), Clontubrid, Co. Kilkenny

In context

It is one of 4 wind energy applications Kilkenny County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 61 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% were granted.

What happens next

The five-week window for public submissions has closed. The council normally decides within eight weeks of the application being lodged, unless it requests further information, which stops the clock.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Kilkenny County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

for a wind energy project consisting of nine 500 kW wind turbines represents a total installed capacity of 4.5 MW. This medium-scale wind farm is suitable for small communities, industrial applications, or grid-connected renewable energy projects. Key Details: Total Capacity: 4.5 MW (9 turbines x 500 kW each). Annual Energy Output: Approximately 10–18 million kWh/year (depending on the site's wind conditions and capacity factor). Land Requirement: Requires around 20–40 hectares, depending on the spacing between turbines (typically 5–7 times the rotor diameter). Grid Connection: Includes step-up transformers to integrate the generated power into the local grid at higher voltage levels. Turbine Configuration: Rotor diameter: 40–50 meters. Hub height: 40–60 meters. Cut-in wind speed: ~3 m/s. Cut-out wind speed: ~20 m/s. Environmental Benefits: Offsets ~13,500–18,000 metric tons of CO2 annually compared to coal-fired electricity. Provides clean energy for approximately 2,700–3,600 households. Applications: This project could support rural electrification, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and serve as a model for community-based renewable energy development.