EMpower energy developer secures planning permission for €60m Co Kerry wind farm

Last week, ABP granted EMPower approval to develop 10 of the initial 12 turbines it had planned to build, which will be capable of generating enough energy for around 30,000 homes.

Speaking with the Sunday Independent, EMPower founder Diarmuid Twomey said he was “delighted” with the result as his team had been working on this project for four years.

However, he highlighted the need for more Government action to help speed up decisions.

“This project, along with several others released by ABP this week, will allow for a robust auction process to be run in 2023 and ensures the pipeline of projects required to meet the 2030 targets is maintained,” he said.

“One point to note is that this permit was 91 weeks in the strategic infrastructure process, which clearly highlights the urgency with which our Government needs to properly resource ABP if we are to achieve the 80pc renewable energy targets.”

When both phases are complete, it will be capable of providing power to around 45,000 homes

Shronowen will now enter the ECP grid process, with ABP sharing its decision one day before the deadline.

It will also participate in the RESS (Renewable Electricity Support Scheme) 3 auctions in the summer of 2023. Success would allow for construction to commence in the summer of 2024.

Twomey said plans for phase two of the Shronowen project had already started. It would add four extra turbines, 14 across the two phases, and bring the total investment to €81.9m.

When both phases are complete, it will be capable of providing power to around 45,000 homes.

In February 2021, the Sunday Independent reported EMPower had agreed to a 50-50 partnership with Morrison & Co, backed by several significant Australian and New Zealand pension funds, to develop wind farms in Ireland.