There could soon be 13 new wind turbines dotted across the Laois landscape if a windfarm company gets their way.
Coolglass Wind Farm Limited is seeking approval to erect 13 wind turbines across 184 acres, taking in Portlaoise, Timahoe, Wolfhill, and Luggacurran.
The approval, sought from An Bord Pleanála, is to erect turbunes of 180 metres in height.
The project is to also include three other important elements:
- The construction of a permanent 110kV electrical substation;
- The construction of a 33kV collector cable circuit connecting the wind farm two clusters along the Knocklead Road;
- Underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the wind turbines to the wind farm substation.
The company is seeking an initial ten-year contract with An Bord Pleanála, but estimates a 35-year operational life the proposed development.
A full, detailed breakdown of the project can be found here.
Coolglass Wind Farm Limited is a subsidiary of Statkraft Ireland, which itself is a subsidiary of Statkraft.
The Statkraft Group – a state-owned energy company from Norway – is Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy.
They entered the UK market in 2006 and in 2018 they began operating in Ireland.
Statkraft Ireland currently operates five wind farms across the country, including Moanvane, just outside Clara, Offaly; Coole in north Westmeath; Drehid, north Kildare; Derrykillew in Donegal; and Kilathmoy on the Limerick/Kerry border.
In 2019, the company entered the solar market here, with the the acquisition of nine solar projects across the country.
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD, joined Statkraft and Microsoft in May of 2023 to turn the sod on Harlockstown Solar – Statkraft’s latest solar project in Ireland.
The solar project in Co. Meath, which could power the equivalent of almost 9,000 homes, is one of several renewable energy projects being delivered as part of a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) between the company and Microsoft.
Under the multi-year deals, Statkraft Ireland will supply the technology firm with 366MW of clean energy from six of its wind and solar farms.
Donal O’Sullivan, Head of Development at Statkraft Ireland, said:
“The development of Coolglass Wind Farm would bring benefits to the local community as well as the people of Laois more widely.
“During construction, we would anticipate that there would be direct economic benefits to the local economy due to new opportunities for local businesses and suppliers to get involved in the project.
“After construction, the Coolglass Wind Farm, as it is currently proposed, could bring with it a Community Benefit Fund in the region of an estimated €470,000 each year, or more than €7 million over a 15-year period.
“These funds will support the sustainability of the local area and ensure that local individuals and communities will benefit directly from the transformation of our energy system.
“The funding can be used in a variety of ways. Other communities have used the funds for initiatives such as near-neighbour payments; energy efficiency schemes for households; local heritage projects; job creation; tourism; sports clubs and amenities, and local education schemes.
“Outside the proposed Coolglass Wind Farm area, people and communities could benefit through the rates provided to Laois County Council by the project.
“Up to €1.2 million in annual rate payments could be provided to the council, benefitting the county as a whole.
“Finally, projects that deliver clean, green energy to the grid reduce our reliance on expensive, polluting fossil fuels and drive down the cost of energy for families and businesses throughout Laois and the country.”
Submissions, objections or observations may be made over the next seven weeks to An Bord Pleanála either in writing or at pleanala.ie.
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