Galway Wind Park is a two-phase project which, when completed in autumn 2017, will be the largest onshore wind farm in Ireland.
Phase 1 (64MW) entered construction in February 2015 and is owned and financed by SSE, while Phase 2 (105MW) is a 50/50 joint venture between SSE and Ireland’s commercial state forestry company, Coillte. Turbine installation on Phase 2 is due to commence from November and all turbines are expected to be installed by mid-2017.
The project’s turbine supplier, Siemens, is currently delivering turbine components to the site. The top section of the turbines (the nacelle), as well as the blades, hub and internal components are produced in Denmark, while the turbine towers are manufactured in China and Vietnam.
As part of Coillte and SSE’s commitment to the local economy, Galway Harbour is playing a key role in this phase of the project. The nacelles, hubs, blades and other ancillary turbine components are being shipped to Galway Harbour, while the larger tower components will be transported to the site from Foynes, Co. Limerick. The deliveries are taking place in the early hours of the morning to minimise traffic and disruption to local residents.
Galway Harbour Deputy Harbour Master Captain Bob Ellis said: “Being able to undertake this project is very important to the ongoing sustainability of Galway Harbour. Economically, the Galway Wind Park project will account for a significant portion of the Harbour’s marine income over the next two years.
"It is also making a major contribution to employment, allowing us to grow our existing workforce and create up to 25 more jobs locally over the timeframe of the delivery programme. Additionally, further employment is being created from ancillary and supplementary services that the harbour uses.
“As a harbour authority we have ambitious plans to develop new port facilities for Galway which would, for instance, facilitate the delivery of all turbine components including larger scale units direct into the region.
"Through our partnership with Galway Wind Park we’re clearly demonstrating the strategic opportunity that renewable energy presents for Galway Harbour and the West to become a key player in the delivery of major renewable energy projects.”
Galway Wind Park is a wind farm cluster that consists of four wind farms – Cloosh, Lettercraffroe, Seecon and Uggool. When operational it will have the capacity to generate enough green energy to power around 84,000 homes, equivalent to almost 90% of the homes in Co. Galway.
