SSE install final turbine on Irish onshore wind farm

SSE Renewables has installed the final turbine at an onshore wind farm in Ireland.

Lenalea Wind Farm has seen the completion of its seventh and final turbine at the site in County Donegal. 

This milestone follows ongoing collaboration with EirGrid which has completed commissioning and energisation of Lenalea’s 110kV loop in substation, resulting in the site now being connected to the national transmission system. 

The connection to the grid paves the way for commissioning and testing of the turbines, which will take place from August to October.

The site is due to be fully operational in November this year.

The 30.1MW onshore wind project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland and is located around 10km southwest of Letterkenny.  

Once operational, the site could power up to 20,000 Irish homes each year and offset 24,500 tonnes of carbon per annum, contributing to the delivery of Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy targets.

Delivery of the Lenalea Wind Farm project represents a joint total capital investment of more than €40 million by development partners SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland. 

This investment is helping support County Donegal’s job creation and local economy, with over 150,000 working hours recorded using regional contractors employing significant workforce locally.

Ghislain Demeuldre, SSE Renewables’ head of onshore development for Ireland, said: “Installing the final turbine at Lenalea is a landmark moment in the delivery of this project and particularly satisfying when this coincides with the grid connection. 

“It is testament to the commitment by our project team as well as by our project’s supply chain partners from Adman who turned the first sod, OMEXOM who built the substation, EirGrid and ESBN who commissioned the substation and finally turbine supplier Vestas supported on the ground by Glenturas. 

“We are now on track to enter commercial operation later this year.

“Developments like Lenalea Wind Farm continue to be significant for Ireland, not just through the contribution they will make towards climate action and in meeting Ireland’s green electricity targets, but also through the strategically important role they will play in supporting investment and boosting regional development. 

“Over the course of delivery, the Lenalea project has supported up to 35 construction jobs at peak in Donegal, adding real value to the local community. Wind energy is not only good for climate, but is also good for the economy.”