Wind farm plan for west gets a boost

A proposal to build the first wind farm off Ireland's west coast took a step nearer yesterday when the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, approved a foreshore licence to investigate the feasibility of developing a €130 million wind farm off the north Kerry coast.

National Windpower Ltd is seeking to develop the wind farm on the southern lip of the Shannon estuary, involving the construction of between 20 and 30 wind turbines.

The foreshore licence will allow the Limerick-based company to investigate a 50-sq-km area between Kilmore and Inchamore Points south of the Cashen River on the north Kerry coast.

Part of the conditions attached to the licence require the company to avoid any interference with the main dolphin feeding grounds and habitat in the Shannon estuary following a recommendation by Dúchas, the Heritage Service.

Expressing his delight over the award of the licence, Mr Fitzgerald said: "We have every confidence that the wind farm will be built."

Given that the National Windpower proposal will not be constructed on land, the €130 million plan will not have to go through the normal planning process.

This will come as a relief to the developers as proposals for wind-farms in the Shannon estuary area, which has been identified as a prime location for wind power, have met with mixed results.

Currently two applications have been put on hold on Clare's Loop Head peninsula, while an application at Tarbert in Co Kerry is currently being adjudicated by An Bord Pleanála.

However, National Windpower has been successful in seeking planning permission for a six-turbine wind farm at Athea in Co Limerick and construction is expected to start on a wind farm near the west Clare town of Kilrush later this year.

To comply with Departmental regulations, the company's proposed off-shore plan must have a land-based element and planning permission must be in place for that before an application can be made to the Minister for a lease to build and operate the wind farm.