Single-turbine wind farm with 159m turbines proposed at Ballytobin & Ballyhall, Ireland, 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 10-Year planning permission for development at this site located in the townlands of Ballytobin & Ballyhall, County Kilkenny. The development will consist of the construction of a Single Wind Turbine development on an 8.96-hectare site consisting of: - I. A single 4.26-megawatt (MW) wind turbine with an overall tip height of 159m, comprising a rotor diameter of 138m and a hub height 90m; II. Wind turbine foundation, crane hardstanding and assembly area; III. Temporary Construction Compound; IV. Upgrade of an existing field entrance to new wind farm site entrance; V. Upgrading and widening of existing access tracks; VI. New access tracks; VII. An on-site 20kV electrical substation, comprising of 2 Modular Substation Buildings; VIII. Electrical and communication cabling within private lands; IX. Tree felling, landscaping and reinstatement works; and X. All associated ancillary works. The operational lifespan of the development will be 35-years from the date of commissioning. The Development consists of works within the curtilage of Ballytobin House, a protected structure, reference ‘C315’ as listed on the County Kilkenny Record of Protected Structures. This Planning Application is not subject to a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) or Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply.