SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland have marked completion of the 30MW Lenalea wind farm at an official opening event at the site in County Donegal, Ireland.
The event was attended by local politicians, community leaders and supply chain representatives.
The wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland and is in the rural upland setting of central Donegal, around 10km south-west of Letterkenny.
Delivery of Lenalea has represented a total capital investment of more than €40m by SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland. SSE Renewables is part of SSE while FuturEnergy Ireland is a Coillte-ESB joint venture company.
The fully operational wind farm comprises seven Vestas V117-4.3 MW onshore turbines. Under the terms of a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) between SSE Renewables, FutureEnergy Ireland and Microsoft, the renewable energy produced at Lenalea Wind Farm will contribute towards Microsoft’s goal of powering its data centre operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025.
In addition to environmental and economic benefits, the Lenalea Community Fund will open later this year, inviting the first round of applications for funding. A locally appointed committee has been established to oversee the management of the Community Benefit Fund. The final design and shape of the funding strategy will soon be going out for consultation, this is expected to be approved and implemented in late 2024.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, who provided the keynote address at the official opening event in Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey, welcomed the completion of the project.
“Congratulations to all involved with Lenalea Wind Farm,” said Minister McConologue.
“Like all successful initiatives, it took leadership, partnership and teamwork to bring the development to this stage. SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland have invested €40m in this joint venture onshore wind development and 35 people were involved during its construction, many who were locally based.
“The site will make a real contribution to Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy targets and assist in security of supply.”
Construction on the wind farm located within the townlands of Cark, Killmansey, Lenalea, Kirkneedy and Rareagh began in May 2021 when the first sod was turned.
Full construction began in June 2022, led by leading industry partners as well as many regional contractors employing a significant local workforce.
Supply chain partners included lead construction contractor, Omagh-based Adman Civil Projects, turbine supplier Vestas, OMEXOM who built the adjacent 110kv substation which connects the wind farm to Ireland’s national grid, supported by Glenturas, as well as EirGrid and ESB Networks who commissioned the substation.
Over the course of delivery, the Lenalea project supported 35 construction jobs at peak in Donegal, adding value to the local economy.
SSE Renewables led Lenalea Wind Farm’s construction and will now operate the wind farm throughout its lifetime.
“As lead developer on the project, SSE Renewables is proud to officially launch Lenalea Wind Farm. We are grateful to the entire project team, as well as our industry partners and suppliers, for their dedication and expertise throughout the development,” said SSE Renewables’ head of development & construction (GB & Ireland) Heather Donald.
“We would also like to extend our gratitude to the local communities in Donegal for their support and cooperation. Wind energy is not only vital in helping Ireland reach its climate goals, but also strategically important in supporting regional development.”
FuturEnergy Ireland portfolio director Mary Lynch added: “We are delighted to reach this important milestone on what is a landmark achievement, given that Lenalea is the first of a number of projects which we are jointly developing with SSER this decade in furtherance of Ireland’s 2030 climate goals.
Lenalea’s health, safety and environmental record was excellent throughout, largely thanks to the strong working relationship with Coillte, adjacent landowners, local agencies and the community.”
Pictured left to right are Wind Energy Ireland chief executive Noel Cuniffe, Microsoft Ireland director of public policy Ciaran Conlon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, SSE Renewables onshore renewable development director Heather Donald and FuturEnergy chief executive Peter Lynch.