Offaly County Council refuses permission for wind farm grid connection works at Rin, Ferbane, Co. Offaly

In context

It is one of 3 wind energy applications Offaly 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 applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 22 October 2024. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

•The construction of one Enercon E138 Wind Energy Converter on an 81m tower with an electrical rating of 4.5MW and an overall tip height of 149.38m. •Installation of the hardstanding area for the Wind Energy Converter. •Installation of underground circuit cables which will run in underground cable trenches (c.1.2m deep), from the proposed Wind Energy Converter to the proposed substation building on the site. •Construction of the proposed substation building which will be located c. 340m from the proposed wind energy converter and surrounded by stock proof fencing. It will be a single storey building, measuring 53m2 and c. 5m in height. •Construction of proposed internal site access track, constructed from permeable material and which will run from the site entrance to the Wind Energy Converter hardstanding area. •All associated ancillary infrastructure and preparatory works such as provision of the site entrance. The power rating associated with the proposed wind turbine is 4.5 megawatts (MW). The proposed Project will have a 30-year lifespan.