SSE Renewables and its co–development partner Coillte Renewable Energy have begun construction of their joint 30MW Lenalea wind project in central Donegal.
Delivery of Vestas turbines to Lenalea is expected to commence in spring 2023, with installation of the seven Vestas V117-4.2MW turbines in 4.3MW operating mode scheduled to take place at the site over the course of summer 2023.
Full wind farm commissioning and completion is expected in late 2023.
Delivery of the Lenalea Wind Farm project represents a joint total capital investment of around €40m by 50:50 co-development partners SSE Renewables and Coillte Renewable Energy.
The investment will help support County Donegal’s green recovery through the creation of up to 35 construction jobs at peak project delivery.
The roles are expected to be either directly employed by the project’s lead construction contractor, Omagh-based Adman Civil Projects, or through local subcontractors.
Lenalea is located in the rural upland setting of central Donegal, approximately 10 km south west of Letterkenny and within the townlands of Cark, Killmansey, Lenalea, Kirkneedy and Rareagh.
The site is also located near SSE Renewables’ existing Meentycat wind farm.
In September 2020 Lenalea received the green light for development and construction after it won a 15-year contract for low carbon power in the first round of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS1), Ireland’s first competitive auction for onshore wind.
The RESS contract for Lenalea also mandated a multi-million-euro community fund to be paid to community groups locally for the 15-year term of the contract.
SSE Renewables is leading on construction of the project on behalf of the co-development partnership and will operate Lenalea Wind Farm throughout its lifetime.
Coillte Renewable Energy managing director Peter Lynch said: “We are delighted to be involved in the co-development of Lenalea Wind Farm.
“Its success in securing capacity in the first RESS auction in 2020 was a major achievement and ensures both a guaranteed route to market for the green electricity that will be generated as well as providing a substantial community benefit fund to promote energy efficiency, climate action initiatives and a wide range of other community projects in the area.”
All civil and electrical works are due for completion by late 2022.