Bord Na Mona launches wind energy hub in Midlands

Bord Na Mona has announced plans to develop a major wind energy hub on its land-holdings in the midlands. Construction work on the first phase of what the company is describing as Bord na Móna Clean Energy Hub began earlier this week in Mountlucas near Daingean in North Offaly. This €115 million wind-energy project, one of the biggest wind farms in Ireland and Britain, will see the construction of 28 advanced technology turbines which will provide eco friendly electricity for 45,000 Irish households. Construction of the 80 megawatt Mountlucas project will generate over 150 jobs and sustain a further twelve long-term jobs when it becomes operational in 2014. According to the company CEO, Gabriel D'Arcy, the event was "the first real step forward in realising the potential of these resources across the Midlands". "It is the beginning of a series of concrete moves by Bord na Móna in the region and will be followed by another similar significant event early in the New Year and also a separate development involving our wind energy plans for the West of Ireland," he added. Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, who was on hand to oversee the start of the project, said: "I congratulate Bord na Móna on its development of this key project, which will underpin the company's diversification strategy, support Ireland's energy policy objectives and demonstrate the potential which the Midlands has for the development of significant renewable energy projects" "The Bord na Móna Clean Energy Hub has the potential to become a significant supplier of renewable electricity beyond Irish borders. This is in line with the British and Irish Governments' decision in July 2011 to examine the potential for renewable energy trading between the jurisdictions, which would underpin the development of the Bord na Móna Clean Energy Hub in the Irish Midlands that would see power generated in the region directly exported into the British energy market. Bord na Móna CEO, Gabriel D'Arcy said "We are very experienced in this area, with a history of investing in wind energy since the early 1990s. In this time we have worked with companies like Siemens, our turbine supplier at Mountlucas, to get the highest return from our natural resources and drive sustainable energy production in Ireland. We have already started practical wind energy assessments of Bord na Móna's extensive landholdings in the region and will work with everyone in the area to secure what we intend will be a sustainable future for renewable energy in the Midlands. "When Bord na Móna was initially established it was seen as the engine for economic development particularly in the Midlands. We in Bord na Móna have strong links in this community going back generations. We live here, we work here and we are deeply invested in creating the brightest possible future for the region. "This 21st Century wind energy project is the harbinger of large-scale investment in energy production that will see significant and sustainable prosperity for this region that we estimate will sustain 2,000 jobs directly and thousands more indirectly. Ultimately, our plans for a sustainable Bord na Móna Clean Energy Hub will drive jobs and prosperity here by generating power not just for the Irish market but for the British and European energy markets."