MKO was appointed by Bord na Móna Powergen to provide Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services for a large-scale wind energy project at Cloncreen, Co. Offaly. Working closely with the Bord na Móna Powergen development team, MKO managed the design and environmental assessment of the proposed project, and engaged in ongoing consultation with the local community and relevant statutory and non-statutory consultees.
As a large-scale wind farm project, located on a site measuring 960 hectares and capable of producing in excess of 50 Megawatts of energy, MKO led the proposed development through the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) determination process with An Bord Pleanála, with the Board ultimately determining in July 2016 that the project met the requirements for an SID application.
MKO coordinated the production of the Environmental Impact Statement and all Planning Application documentation to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála. The planning application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in October 2016, and comprised 21 No. turbines and all ancillary infrastructure and works, including access roads, substation and grid connection, met mast, borrow pit and compounds.
The application sought permission for turbine heights of up to 170 metres, a new record for the Irish midlands at the time.
Full planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála for the project in May 2017, just seven months after the application was lodged. The project has since moved quickly to secure a grid-connection offer under ECP-1 and is now in the pre-commencement stage, awaiting RESS auctions.
