Waterford City and County Council grants permission for 8-turbine wind farm with 159m turbines at Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

In context

It is one of 4 wind energy applications Waterford City and 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 11 June 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

the Development (to be called Knocknamona Windfarm 2026) will consist of the following elements: a) Windfarm of eight (8) wind turbines within an overall tip height of 159m (in the same location and with a 4m higher tip height, than the 8 No. turbines previously authorized in 2022 under reference 309412-21). The turbine rotor diameter size within the range 133m to 138m inclusive; turbine hub height within the range 90m to 92.5m inclusive – all within an overall tip height of 159m. b) Construction of 8 No. turbine foundations and adjacent hard-core crane hardstandings. There are minor changes to the alignment of some hardstandings, to those previously authorised. c) A Windfarm Substation compound including two control buildings and outdoor electrical equipment and apparatus. The windfarm substation is in the same location and is larger than previously authorised. d) Windfarm site access roads comprising widening and upgrading of 6.8km of existing forestry roads and construction of 1.2km of new access roads. The proposed site access roads involve some realignment to those previously authorised. e) One (1) 90m lattice tower mast with meteorological equipment attached, in the same location and 9m lower than previously authorised. f) Felling of 29.8ha of commercial forestry. g) Underground cabling linking the wind turbines and meteorological mast to the Windfarm Substation; and h) All ancillary, associated and facilitating works and activities including widening of an existing forestry entrance to create the main windfarm entrance at Knocknaglogh Lower; a surface water drainage system; two temporary borrow pits and a temporary site compound. i) This application is seeking a ten-year permission and a 35-year operational period from date of commissioning of the Windfarm. This development is a Windfarm Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) Development. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU ) 2023/2413)