4-turbine wind farm with 180m turbines proposed at Clonarrow or Riverlyons, Killoneen, 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 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 Offaly County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

the dev.will incl.the following main components:•Erection of 4wind turbines;The candidate wind turbines for T1, T2 and T4 have a rotor diameter of 150m, a hub height of 105m and a tip height of 180m. The candidate wind turbine for T3 has a rotor diameter of 117m,a hub height of 91.5m & a tip height of 150m;•Construction of permanent Turbine Hardstands & Turbine Foundations;•Construction of new permanent internal Access Tracks & upgrade of existing internal Access Tracks;•Development of an internal site drainage network & sediment control systems;•Construction of a permanent 38kV Onsite Substation with surrounding palisade fence 2.6m in height;•Installation of battery arrays located within container units (4 no. units) and associated electrical plant for grid stabilisation adjacent to Onsite Substation building with surrounding palisade fence 2.6m in height;•All associated internal underground electrical &communications cabling connecting the wind turbines to the Onsite Substation;•All associated site development works including soil excavation, spoil storage & biodiversity enhancement measures;•Installation of a meteorological mast (32m in height) for monitoring wind speeds, set in a 5m x 5m reinforced concrete foundation with surrounding paladin fence 2.4m in height;•Installation of a Relay Mast (to re-route the Three Ireland radio link between Mount Lucas and Curragh) 19.8m in height including lightning protection rods set in an 8m x 8m reinforced concrete foundation with surrounding paladin fence 2.4m in height with an adjacent outdoor cabinet on a 3m x 2m concrete base;•Temporary Road widening and strengthening works at the R402 and L50203 junction to accommodate abnormal load deliveries;•Existing bridge on L50203 (ITM 650044E, 727144N) to be permanently upgraded to accommodate abnormal load deliveries;•Temporary bridge & temporary local access road to facilitate local traffic while the bridge upgrade works are being carried out;•Upgrade of an existing Site entrance located on a private road off the L50203; and•Construction of a Temporary Construction Compound with associated temporary site offices, parking areas, security fencing welfare facilities & wastewater holding tank. An additional Temporary Construction Compound will be constructed for the bridge upgrade & temporary bridge works. A 10 year planning permission & 35year operational life from the date of commissioning of the entire wind farm is being sought. EIAR & NIS accompany this application