Renewable energy and energy storage group, Gaelectric, has officially launched its ninth operating wind farm today at Roosky, 2.5km south of Ballaghaderreen.
Picture Credit: Irish Wind Energy Association
Roosky is a 4.0 Megawatt wind farm comprising of two German-made Enercon turbines. It will generate sufficient renewable power to provide 10,800 megawatt-hours of electricity which is sufficient to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 2,200 homes.
Commenting at today’s launch, Barry Gavin, Chief Operating Officer of Gaelectric, said, “We are delighted to launch Roosky Wind Farm, our sixth operating wind farm in the Republic of Ireland and one of nine we now have operating on the island of Ireland. It is also one twenty-one projects we are developing in Ireland, north and south. With Roosky, we now have around 175MW of generation which puts us well on the way towards our target of 400MW of generating assets in Ireland by the end of 2017. Wind energy is Ireland’s energy success story. We have the lowest wind energy cost in Europe, and on a par with energy generated from gas. Wind energy is improving our energy security and helping to keep energy costs down for businesses and households.”
Attending today’s launch, Eugene Murphy TD, said “I welcome the Roosky Wind Farm to the Ballaghaderreen area and wish them well. There is a big debate about wind farms and renewable energy resources and I think it is crucial that the community are at ease with the project during the entire process. I believe that the community in Roosky will benefit directly throughout the lifetime of the project from the Community Fund associated with the project. Greater community involvement is the way forward for large scale renewable energy projects that need to locate in rural areas.”
Community Benefit
Gaelectric will establish a fund to support the local community. This fund will contribute an estimated €10,000 per year towards community projects, or €250,000 over the lifetime of the project. This is in addition to estimated payments of €30,000 per year in commercial rates to Roscommon County Council, or €750,000 over the lifetime of the project.
Construction and commissioning of Roosky Wind Farm also contributed to the local economy, employing approximately 60 people during its 8 month construction programme.
Roosky is one of twenty-one windfarms being developed by Gaelectric on the island of Ireland, and its ninth operating wind farm following Skrine (ROI), Carn Hill (NI), Dunbeg (NI), Faughary (ROI), Cloghboola (ROI), Ballywater (ROI), Monnaboy (NI) and Leabeg (ROI). Gaelectric’s current operating portfolio has a generating capacity of 175 MW, sufficient to meet the electricity needs of over 110,000 homes.