SSE Renewables has been granted planning permission to extend the operational life of its Richfield Wind Farm in Ireland.
Wexford County Council granted the extension, which means Richfield (pictured) will continue to generate clean energy for a further 20 years.
The wind farm is located near Bridgetown in County Wexford.
With an installed capacity of 27MW, the 18-turbine project has been producing renewable energy for the past two decades.
Each year, the energy generated at the wind farm has been capable of powering the equivalent of up to 18,000 homes annually, helping displace almost 22,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
The original planning consent for the wind farm was granted in 2005 and limited its operational lifetime to just 20 years.
Onshore wind O&M general manager for SSE Renewables in Ireland Ciaran Maguire said: “Richfield Wind Farm has contributed to clean energy production in Ireland for nearly two decades, and with this life extension, it has the potential to continue to support the country in achieving its ambitious climate targets.
“Importantly, due to this consent from Wexford County Council, we can continue to provide direct benefits to the local community for many more years to come through our long-standing Community Benefit Fund as well as financial support to the provision of local services through ongoing commercial rates payments to the local authority.”
To support the planning process, SSE Renewables hosted a public information in June 2024 at the Stella Maris Centre in Kilmore Quay where members of the local community were provided an opportunity to find out further details of the company’s plans.
This included information on how the wind farm’s community fund would continue to operate if the site’s life extension is approved.
Since it launched in 2007, the Richfield Community Fund has awarded more than €400,000 to 266 community groups in the vicinity of the wind farm, with almost €34,000 awarded in the last year alone.
Separately, SSE Renewables is also progressing plans for a solar farm adjacent to the existing Richfield Wind Farm at a 44-hectare site in the townlands of Hooks/Yoletown and Kilcowan.
The company was granted planning permission for the 21MWp solar project in summer 2024.