Bord na Mona and ESB have reached financial close on the 83MW Oweninny 2 wind farm in North County Mayo, Ireland.
The €150m project will be financed with long-term debt from a consortium of banks including AIB, BNP Paribas and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Oweninny, which is located between Crossmolina and Bangor Erris, adjoins Ireland’s first commercial wind farm, Bord na Mona’s Bellacorrick and the 89MW phase one of Oweninny commissioned in 2019.
Bord na Mona chief executive Tom Donnellan said: “Bord na Mona is a climate solutions company focused on using our assets and expertise to support sustainable economic development across the country.
“We have a long history of renewable energy operations and development in Mayo and this exciting new venture represents the next chapter in Bord na Mona reaching 1GW of renewable assets by 2030. which will power over half a million homes across the country.
“Our vision is to help Ireland achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“This joint venture with ESB, supported by our lenders, demonstrates how we in Bord na Mona can deploy our expertise and assets in order to support national policy to decarbonise by investing in new forms of renewable energy that are secure and sustainable. “
ESB chief executive Paddy Hayes said: “ESB is focused on low carbon electricity to create a brighter future for the customers and communities we serve.
“Building on ESB’s long history of electricity generation at Bellacorick and a strong partnership with Bord na Mona, the Oweninny joint venture investment is another tangible step towards a low carbon future, powered by clean electricity.”
ESB and Bord na Mona have established a community benefit scheme for the funding of local community projects and initiatives over the lifetime of the wind farm.
The community benefit scheme for phase one of the wind farm has to date contributed over €400,000 to community groups and organisations across County Mayo.