This year, just over 200MW of renewable energy projects that our Environmental team has brought through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process have been granted planning permission. These are Lyrenacarriga Wind Farm in Co. Waterford (~85MW), Seven Hills Wind Farm in Co. Roscommon (~102MW) and Carrigarierk Wind Farm Extension, Co. Cork (~14MW). Once operational, not only will these projects contribute to achieving the national renewable energy target of 9GW installed onshore wind energy capacity (Ireland is currently at ~4.3GW), but they will also bring community benefit funds to local communities during its operation to upwards of €690,000 per annum. They will also generate approximately 150 jobs during their construction phase.
Over the course of this year, our Environmental team submitted and contributed to just over 500MWs of renewable energy projects, 450MW of which is made up of wind energy and 60MW of which made up of solar energy.
Our team brought several large infrastructure developments through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process to successful planning permission. Developments such as the Dexcom Manufacturing Facility in Athenry, Co. Galway, Center Parcs Longford Forest Extension in Co. Longford, and the Knockaunnagat Quarry in Co Galway, all of which will generate approximately 770 jobs during their construction, and approximately 1,450 jobs during their operation.
Ardderroo Wind Farm
Arrderoo Wind Farm, Co. Galway, a wind farm development that MKO successfully secured planning permission for and carried out the Environmental Clerk of Works role during its construction phase. This development is now operational and will gradually become fully operational in early 2024, contributing approximately 100MW to Ireland’s installed onshore wind energy capacity
Granted wind farm projects
Seven Hills (102MWs granted) – The Wind Farm, with 17 no. turbines, and an operational life of 30 years has been granted. 300,000 per annum in benefit funds.
Carrigarierk (14.4MWs granted) – The extension of an existing wind farm by 3 no. turbines were granted, with a rated output of 14.4MWs. The Proposed Development will have an operational life of 25 years from the date of commissioning. 30,000 per annum in benefit fund.
Lyrenacarriga – (85MWs granted) – The Wind Farm, with 17 no. turbines, each with an installed capacity of 5MW, was granted for a 30-year operational life. 360,000 per annum in benefit funds.
Granted non-wind projects
Dexcom Athenry
Employment/investment in communities
There will be an opportunity for increased employment during the construction phase of the Proposed Development, as it is anticipated that there will be an increase in job opportunities for those working in the construction sector, building services and supplies, as well as in local businesses. Approximately 500 jobs could be created during the construction phase of the Proposed Development. It is estimated that the construction phase of the Proposed Development will take approximately 18 months, with a further six months to complete the final internal fitting out and commissioning. Where possible, construction workers and materials will be sourced locally, helping to sustain employment in the construction trade. This will have a short-term significant positive impact.
The injection of money in the form of salaries and wages to those employed during the project’s construction phase has the potential to result in an increase in household spending and demand for goods and services in the local area. This would result in local retailers and businesses experiencing a short-term positive impact on their cash flow and will have a short-term slight positive indirect impact.
Based on the assessment above, there will be a short-term positive impact on employment and investment in the local area during the construction phase of the Proposed Development.
In the operational phase, the Proposed Development facility will require the employment of c.1000 employees, which are described in the following functions:
- Office and administrative support
- Manufacturing and production shift
- Catering team
- Facility management and engineering support
- Engineering and landscape contractors: The employment impact can also be expressed in terms of increased wages and other linked services in the community.
Based on the above, the operational phase will create a long term significant positive impact on employment and investment opportunities in the local area associated with the Proposed Development.
In terms of employment and economic benefit, there will be a slight short-term, positive cumulative impact between the construction phases of the Proposed Development and the other projects due to the majority of construction workers and materials being sourced locally, thereby helping to sustain employment in the construction trade.
The injection of money in the form of salaries and wages to those employed during the construction and operational phases of the Proposed Development and the other projects has the potential to result in a slight increase in household spending and demand for goods and services in the local area. This would result in local retailers and businesses experiencing a short-term positive impact on their cash flow. During the operational phase, the demand for services from local businesses will further contribute to the local economy and other activities in the area.
Center Parcs
There will be an opportunity for increased employment during the construction phase of the Proposed Development, as it is anticipated that there will be an increase in job opportunities for those working in the construction sector, building services and supplies, as well as in local businesses. Approximately 270 jobs could be created during the construction phase of the Proposed Development. The Proposed Development’s construction phase will last approximately 18 – 24 months. Where possible, construction workers and materials will be sourced locally, helping sustain employment in the construction trade and having a short-term significant positive impact.
The injection of money in the form of salaries and wages to those employed during the project’s construction phase has the potential to result in an increase in household spending and demand for goods and services in the local area. This would result in local retailers and businesses experiencing a short-term positive impact on their cash flow. The Proposed Development would generate an estimated €9.8 million in direct wages. Due to the additional economic activity the Proposed Development promotes, there would be a further €8.9 million in wages in construction suppliers and induced benefits of €6.2 million in wages. This will have a short-term slight positive indirect impact.
The Proposed Development will facilitate employment in the creation of temporary and full-time employment positions in the area. Up to approximately 450 jobs (193 full-time equivalent) could be created during the operational phase of the Proposed Development. The employment impact can also be expressed in terms of increased wages. Some €5.2 million per annum is estimated to be generated in terms of direct payroll of employees. There would also be an expected increase of €1.3 million indirectly (increases in suppliers’ payroll) and €1.1 million from the induced impacts – thus an estimated €7.7 million per annum additional payroll in the economy resulting from the operations of the Proposed Development.
Based on the above, there will be a long-term significant positive impact on employment and investment opportunities in the local area associated with the operational phase of the Proposed Development.
In terms of employment and economic benefit, there will be a slight short-term, positive cumulative impact between the construction phases of the Proposed Development and the other projects due to the majority of construction workers and materials being sourced locally, thereby helping to sustain employment in the construction trade.
Knockaunnagat Quarry
The quarry extension will create four jobs, representing a short term, positive impact in terms of employment and investment.
Once operational, the quarry will require hiring those with specialist skills, which could result in the transfer of these skills into the local workforce, thereby having a long-term positive impact on the local skills base.
Submitted wind farm projects
Umma More (55.8MW applied for) – 9 no. turbines with a 30-year operational life have been applied for.
Sheskin South (126 to 189MW applied for) – 21 no. turbines with a 35-year operational life have been applied for.
Ballivor (117 to 169MW applied for) – 26 no. turbines with a 30-year operational life have been applied for.
Carrig (43.4MW applied for) – 7 no. turbines with a 35-year operational life have been applied for.
Knocknamork TH – This application was for a 110kv substation, 110kv electrical underground cabling, new access roads and a borrow pit to accommodate the connection of the Permitted Knocknamork Renewable Energy Development to the national grid.