What is the Purpose of this Newsletter?
In 2008, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered a judgment against the State concluding that Ireland had failed in its obligations to assess environmental effects in accordance with European Directives prior to the grant of the planning permissions for the Derrybrien wind farm. In 2019, there was a further CJEU judgment against the State for failure to comply with the 2008 judgment.
In order to facilitate compliance by the State with the CJEU judgments, Galway County Council has served a Notice under the Planning and Development Acts directing Gort Windfarms Limited to submit an application for Substitute Consent to An Bord Pleanála.
The Substitute Consent Application will include environmental assessments in compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Directives which will be submitted to assist An Bord Pleanála carrying out a full environmental assessment of the Derrybrien Wind Farm Project throughout the construction, operational and decommissioning stages. These assessments will also address all the works that were undertaken in response to the peat slide in 2003.
What has led to this?
The Derrybrien Wind Farm Project includes the 70 operational turbines, all construction works, including the works that were undertaken in response to the peat slide, the overhead power line and Agannygal substation which connects the site to the national electricity transmission system.
What is the Derrybrien Wind Farm Project?
The electricity generated at each turbine is fed via underground cables, buried at shallow depth, to electrical transformers in Derrybrien Substation. There, the electricity is transformed to a higher voltage for supply to the national electricity network via the Derrybrien – Agannygal Overhead Line (OHL).
What is the history of the Derrybrien Wind Farm Project?
The planning permissions for Derrybrien wind farm were obtained between 1998 and 2001, Gort Windfarms Limited was acquired in 2003 and construction of the wind farm began in June 2003. However, works were stopped in October 2003 due to a peat slide. In response to that event, emergency works were undertaken to protect water courses, roads and property.
The following year (2004), construction of the wind farm resumed once engineering studies had concluded that it was safe to do so. Construction of the Derrybrien Wind Farm Project was completed in 2006 and the wind farm has been generating renewable wind energy to power homes, businesses and farms across Ireland ever since. As such, it is an important part of Ireland’s generation portfolio contribution to creating a low-carbon future for all.
Where can I find out more?
The public can view all documents related to this Substitute Consent application once the application is made in the offices of An Bord Pleanála, Galway County Council and on our dedicated project website www.derrybrienwindfarm.ie .
Submissions can then be made in writing to An Bord Pleanála and will be considered by An Bord Pleanála as part of the assessment process before reaching its determination on the application.
Who can I contact?
If you would like further information on this newsletter or have any other queries on the Substitute Consent Application you can contact david.linnane@esb.ie or by phone at 086 2558111.