Developers welcome positive decision for proposed North Mayo renewable energy development
FuturEnergy Ireland and SSE have welcomed the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant planning permission for the development of Glenora Wind Farm in North Mayo.
The proposed Glenora Wind Farm comprises 22 onshore wind turbines to be installed on a site in Glenora, located around 7km southwest of Ballycastle and 6km southeast of Belderrig.
FuturEnergy Ireland and SSE Renewables submitted a planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála for Glenora Wind Farm in December 2023 following a comprehensive public engagement process between 2021 and 2023.
With a projected export capacity of up to 158MW of green energy, Glenora Wind Farm could play a vital role in powering Irish homes and businesses and in contributing to Ireland’s climate action, energy affordability and security of supply goals.
If delivered, the Glenora Wind Farm project would be expected to create significant local employment opportunities, with up to 120 jobs estimated at peak construction and up to three long-term jobs supported during its operational phase. Additionally, a multi-million-euro community benefit fund would be established upon the wind farm entering commercial operation, with payments made annually to support good causes in the locality and region.
Final delivery of Glenora Wind Farm will be subject to the project securing planning consent for associated grid infrastructure and a grid connection, as well as a commercial route to market and final investment decisions by SSE and FuturEnergy Ireland.
Ghislain Demeuldre, Head of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery Development at SSE Renewables, said:
“Mayo and the Northwest are home to an extraordinary wind energy resource. This decision marks another step forward for the project and the SSE-FuturEnergy Ireland portfolio. Glenora Wind Farm has the potential to bring huge economic benefits to North Mayo through job creation, community benefit funding and commercial rates payments to Mayo County Council.
“For projects like Glenora Wind Farm to reach their full potential, investment in grid infrastructure in the North-West is essential. We are eager to collaborate with all the local, regional and national stakeholders, including the system operators and business development agencies, to tackle grid challenges and unlock the region’s full potential and economic development.”
Mary Lynch, Delivery Director at FuturEnergy Ireland, said:
“Planning consent for Glenora Wind Farm is an extremely positive outcome for North Mayo and for Ireland’s clean energy transition. With the capacity to generate up to 158MW of renewable electricity, the project can make a meaningful contribution to powering homes and businesses while strengthening Ireland’s energy security.
“This project would also bring tangible benefits at a local level, including employment during construction, long-term operational roles, and a substantial community benefit fund to support local projects and initiatives. This decision marks an important step towards delivering resilient, low‑carbon energy infrastructure in the region.”
Glenora Wind Farm is a 50:50 co-development project between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland and part of a co-development portfolio consisting of six projects in counties Donegal, Cork, Kerry and Mayo. Included among these projects are the proposed 18-turbine Sheskin South Wind Farm near Bangor Erris in North Mayo, which was granted planning consent in March 2024, as well as the 58MW Drumnahough Wind Farm in rural upland Donegal, which recently entered construction.
ENDS
Caption: Lenalea Wind Farm in County Donegal which became operational in 2023 and was co-developed by SSE and FuturEnergy Ireland
Picture credit: SSE Renewables
Notes to Editors
About SSE Renewables
SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, focusing on onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro-electric power and flexible storage technologies. It is part of electricity infrastructure company SSE plc, a FTSE-100 company with operations across the UK and Ireland, and a presence in carefully selected international markets. SSE Renewables delivers clean power assets to increase SSE’s operational renewable generation capacity as part of the company’s five-year investment plan to 2030. This includes delivery of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm. SSE Renewables operates some of the leading onshore wind farms in Ireland including the 174MW Galway Wind Park in Connemara and the 73MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park outside Derry City.
About FuturEnergy Ireland
FuturEnergy Ireland is a leading Irish wind developer established in 2021 as a standalone 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 development of 1GW of renewable energy by 2030 by advancing high quality, carefully considered onshore wind and enabling battery storage projects. These projects, once delivered, 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.
