Application made for major windfarm development
The application has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála. Stock image
A planning application has been submitted for the proposed development of Scart Mountain Wind Farm, a renewable energy project that could potentially bring up to €12 million in local community funding to the Cappoquin area of Co Waterford.
The application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála by FuturEnergy Ireland and which relates to a proposed site approximately 4km northeast of Cappoquinn, makes provision for 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 will also be submitting a planning application for the grid connection route for the Scart Mountain project in the coming weeks.
That will comprise 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.
A spokesperson for the applicants told Waterford News & Star that if given the green light 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 a FuturEnergy Ireland initiative that would bring the contribution to the area to around €12 million.
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.
The applicant spokesperson said Scart Mountain Wind Farm has the potential to combat climate change by contributing towards the national target of producing 80 per cent 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," he said.
Emer Campbell, Project Manager at FuturEnergy Ireland, said: “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," said Ms Campbell.
"The project would also create local opportunities through a substantial community benefit fund, local rates payments and employment," she added.
Planning documents will be available to view at http://www.scartmountainplanning.ie, on An Bord Pleanála’s website 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 the project go online to www.scartmountainwindfarm.ie where members of the public can access a virtual exhibition of the project.
