Co. Mayo, 18th March 2024
Leading renewable energy partners FuturEnergy Ireland and SSE Renewables have welcomed a decision by An Bord Pleanála last week to grant planning permission for the development of Sheskin South Wind Farm in County Mayo.
The onshore wind development, which has received consent for 18 turbines with a maximum tip height of 200 metres is located approximately 6.7 km northeast of Bangor Erris and 11km south of the Atlantic coastline.
Mary Lynch, Portfolio Director at FuturEnergy Ireland, said:
“We warmly welcome this positive planning decision by An Bord Pleanála, which allows Sheskin South Wind Farm to progress into the next exciting phase of its development. Together with our co-development partner on the project, SSE Renewables, we are looking forward to advancing the project into its commercialisation stage where the project and its supply chain will start to take shape. It is a significant project of scale, which will make a very positive and lasting contribution to the local economy in Co. Mayo.
"The delivery of the Sheskin South project will contribute significantly to FuturEnergy Ireland’s ambition to develop 1GW of wind energy projects by 2030, and in doing so support Ireland’s climate targets, strengthen our energy security, and reduce electricity bills for all.”
Tom Coleman, Development Project Manager for SSE Renewables, said:
“We welcome the decision made by An Bord Pleanála to grant consent for Sheskin South Wind Farm. Delivery of this project will not only boost Ireland’s energy independence and provide cheaper, cleaner, more secure, homegrown electricity it will be crucial to achieving Ireland’s net zero targets, deliver clear economic benefits, through jobs and supply chain opportunities, whilst the associated community benefit fund will have a direct impact on the local community.
"To deliver on the ambition of the project, we need to see more action on grid investment in the north-west. We will continue to work with the Government and EirGrid to address grid challenges in the region. We also look forward to working with the local community and our co-development partners FuturEnergy Ireland to take the project to the next stage.”
During construction, Sheskin South Wind Farm will generate approximately 100 to 120 jobs along with significant supply chain opportunities for the area. The project partners are also committed to delivering a Community Benefit Fund which will deliver hundreds of thousands of euro annually to the local community. The Fund will be established when the wind farm enters commercial operation, and will support local community groups and projects.
Sheskin South Wind Farm is a 50:50 co-development between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland. The progression of the project is dependent on a final investment decision. A proposed grid connection planning application, in addition to a turbine delivery route application, is scheduled to be submitted later this year.
The project adds to the co-development partners’ pipeline of projects, which includes the seven turbine, 30MW Lenalea Wind Farm which reached full power and connected to the national grid in late 2023, with plans for the proposed 12 turbine, 60MW Drumnahough Wind Farm at an advanced stage. Both projects are located in Donegal.
About SSE Renewables
SSE Renewables is Ireland’s leading developer, owner and operator of onshore wind farms, with a vision to make renewable energy the foundation of a zero-carbon world. The renewable electricity generated at wind farms operated by SSE Renewables across Ireland powers SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of 100% green energy. The company’s onshore wind portfolio includes one of Ireland’s largest operating wind farms, the 174MW Galway Wind Park, jointly operated and owned with Greencoat Renwables and co-developed with Coillte, and the 101MW Yellow River Wind Farm in Co. Offaly, which is in construction.
About FuturEnergy Ireland
FuturEnergy Ireland is a leading Irish wind developer established in 2021 as a stand-alone joint venture between Coillte and the ESB. The company was formed to maximise the potential of Ireland’s unique wind and land resources and accelerate Ireland’s transformation to a low carbon energy economy.
FuturEnergy Ireland is targeting the delivery of 1GW of renewable energy by 2030 through the development of high-quality onshore wind projects of scale. These projects would power an estimated 730,000 homes annually, make a significant contribution to Ireland’s commitment to produce 80% of electricity from renewable sources by the end of this decade, and deliver material emissions reductions.
