32km connection proposed for North Leitrim wind farm

The application for the works related to the Lissinagroagh Wind Farm project was submitted on August 21st by FuturEnergy Lissinagroagh DAC.

The project would see the construction of a 110V sub-station along with a grid connection of approximately 32 km in length, of which 30.6 km will run along a public road corridor across Leitrim and Sligo.

The substation will include an Independent Power Producer (IPP) control building containing a switchgear room, a control room, a site office, store rooms and toilet amenities (220 sq.m).

It will also include other ancillary electrical, plant, infrastructure and grid equipment. The substation will also include parking, lighting, security fencing, a wastewater holding tank and all other associated infrastructure, including site works and signage.

These works would service the Lissinagroagh Wind Farm, a joint venture between Coillte and the ESB, which would see the erection of 14 wind turbines at a height of around 180 metres at Dough Mountain, near Manorhamilton.

The north of Leitrim currently hosts seven wind farms, including at Altagowlan, Black Banks, Corrie Mountain, Garvagh, Knockaneden, Moneenatieve and Tullynamoyle.

Wind Farms are significant financial contributors in the county, paying nearly 20% of all commercial rates in the county, €1.6M, according to Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), the trade organisation for the Irish wind energy sector.

Earlier this year, local groups, including Save Leitrim, raised money to hire experts to object to the project with An Coimisiún Pleanála.

“Save Dough is a pro-wind group; we are not against renewable energy or wind farms,” said Niall McEnroy, a member of the Save Dough Group who spoke at a public meeting against the wind farm.

“What we want is a no regrets approach to future energy and we strongly feel that we will have grave regrets if this development is let go ahead.”

He cited a list of issues the group has with the proposed development, including impacts on ecology and heritage, visual impacts on the mountain, and the risk of land slippage on the mountain.

“People are simply not aware of this development and the scale of it,” he said. “If this development goes ahead, the visual amenity of the area will be completely destroyed, and lovely Leitrim will be no more in North Leitrim.”

The original application was submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála, bypassing the Leitrim County Council’s planning process as it was deemed strategic infrastructure.

FuturEnergy Ireland has stressed the role of community engagement in the project and that their application was made following extensive studies from industry experts and environmental specialists.

It also stated that the proposed Lissinagroagh Wind Farm has the potential to produce “local benefits that many community members are keen to see boost the area, including a Community Benefit Fund of an estimated €12.5 million over the lifetime of the project.

This project would also come with significant employment opportunities and local services supported during construction, secure local energy and a strengthened local electricity grid.”