Draft layout for €100m South Ros windfarm revealed

Photo: An image showing the draft layout of the wind turbines indicated by the blue symbol on land between Dysart, Brideswell and Taughmaconnell.

With community consultation now underway, the developer of a planned €100 million wind farm in the pipeline for areas of south Roscommon has released an image to indicate the draft layout of the 21 turbines.

While the map doesn't show the exact locations, it gives a rough indication with seven of the 180m high turbines closer to Dysart, and the other 14 in the middle of a triangle of land between Dysart, Brideswell, and Taughmaconnell.

Irish energy provider Energia, and Galetech Energy Developments (GED) released the draft layout of the proposed Seven Hills wind energy development in south Roscommon as community consultation got underway in Dysart on Monday.

Further consultation clinics are scheduled to take place in Taughmaconnell, Brideswell, and Athlone later this month.

“Seven Hills Wind Farm Project is a proposed wind energy development of approximately 21 wind turbines with a typical output of 5-6 megawatts per turbine of renewable energy - enough to provide approximately 84,800 Irish households with green energy every year,” the new layout brochure for the scheme stated.

It is estimated that up to 100 jobs could be be created during construction.

A temporary 80 metre met mast will be installed on the site over the next few weeks to collect wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, and air pressure, which will be used to predict and analyse the energy that the wind farm can produce, the developers also confirmed this week.

“The proposed development is being designed to the latest best industry standards and we are appealing to local residents to have their say at an early stage of the development so as to maximise the project benefits to the neighbouring community,” the brochure released to coincide with the start of the community consultation events added.

Initially, over a decade ago, it was Cavan-based Galetech driving the proposal, now it is the more high profile Energia, who have restarted the wind energy project which attracted huge local opposition when it first came to light back in 2010.

Back in March, the development was revived when the energy provider submitted a request to An Bord Pleanála seeking a formal pre-application consultation meeting under legislation governing Strategic Infrastructure Developments (SID), the fast track planning process for large scale development which essentially bypasses the local authority planning process.

More than six years ago now, the local community won a High Court battle overturning the initial approval for the controversial wind farm scheme, and the Wind Turbine Action Group South Roscommon has already said it will fight the new proposals even more vigorously than last time.

A planning application is expected to be lodged for the revived wind farm project in early 2021.

The draft layout plans are available to view online on the www.sevenhillswindfarm.ie website.