SSE and Coillte’s 169MW Galway wind farm has already contributed €88.7m to Irish GDP, despite not being scheduled to be fully operational until late 2017, according to a new report.
The ‘Galway Wind Park Sustainability Impact Report’ outlines economic, environmental and social impacts of the wind farm, including supporting 1657 years of full-time employment in Ireland.
It noted that more than 100 local businesses have provided products and services to the wind farm, representing a €20m spend with the local supply chain in County Galway.
The report also showed that at peak construction 63% of all civil contract workers and 43% of all grid connection contract workers lived within 30km of the site.
It was launched during a visit by First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and Irish Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten to SSE’s Irish headquarters.
The wind farm is split into two parts, with the first 64MW phase owned by SSE and the second 105MW phase a 50:50 joint venture between the Scottish company and Ireland’s state commercial forestry company Coillte.
The analysis for the report was undertaken by the Galway wind farm team on behalf of SSE and Coillte.
Image: turbines going up at Galway site (SSE)
Ireland reaps Galway wind reward
Report highlights benefits of under construction 169MW wind farm
By EBS