FuturEnergy Ireland has submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for Scart Mountain Wind Farm. The renewable energy project is located approximately 4km northeast of Cappoquin in Co. Waterford.
The wind farm planning application, which includes 15 turbines, a 110kV substation and ancillary works, was made by Futurenergy Scart Mountain DAC on behalf of FuturEnergy Ireland, a joint venture company formed by Coillte and ESB. The company is also submitting a planning application for the grid connection route for the Scart Mountain project in the coming weeks, which comprises 16km of cabling to the existing Dungarvan substation.
Scart Mountain Wind Farm would support the local economy by contributing annual rates and providing a Community Benefit Fund. If consented and constructed as designed, the project would contribute a minimum of €540,000 per annum to a Community Benefit Fund for 15 years and a further €270,000 per annum for the operational lifetime of the wind farm. The ‘lifetime’ fund is an exclusive FuturEnergy Ireland initiative that brings the total contribution to the local area to approximately €12 million during the operational period.
Annual local authority rates contributions are estimated at more than €0.5m per annum, while the construction period would support up to 100 jobs with two or three long-term technical employees required.
Scart Mountain Wind Farm has the potential to combat climate change by contributing towards the national target of producing 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. If approved and constructed as proposed, it would save between 61,350 tonnes and 77,694 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Ireland spends €1 million an hour buying fossil fuels from other countries. This enormous sum of money is urgently needed in other areas such as housing and healthcare, education and employment. Projects such as Scart Mountain Wind Farm have the capacity to strengthen our energy independence and security of supply by providing clean, homegrown electricity, which will also lower fuel bills.
Emer Campbell, Project Manager at FuturEnergy Ireland, says: “This planning application marks an important milestone in our commitment to delivering renewable energy solutions that support Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable future.
“If you consider that a single rotation of one turbine would power a typical home for 12 to 16 hours, Scart Mountain Wind Farm has the potential to contribute significantly to national renewable energy targets. The project would also create local opportunities through a substantial community benefit fund, local rates payments and employment.”
Planning documents will be available to view at http://www.scartmountainplanning.ie, on An Bord Pleanála’s website at www.pleanala.ie and in the office of Waterford County Council. The deadline for submissions has been extended by nine days to allow for the Christmas period.
For more information about this project, please visit www.scartmountainwindfarm.ie. This website also provides access to a Virtual Exhibition, which includes detailed project information and photomontages that show the proposed turbines.
