Galway County Council has recently granted planning permission for two major windfarm projects at Shannagurraun/Truskaunnagappul and Lettergunnet/Derrycrih in West County Galway. The Environmental Impact Statements and Planning Applications for both these projects were compiled and co-ordinated by McCarthy Keville O’Sullivan Ltd.
Combined, the two projects recently permitted by Galway County Council provide a total of 17 wind turbines which will generate sufficient electricity to supply approximately 19,415 households. In comparative terms the projects would therefore generate sufficient electricity to cater for approximately 75% of the households in Galway City.
The assessment process that led to the compilation of the EIS documents for these projects served to highlight any areas where mitigation measures were necessary in order to protect the surrounding environment from any negative impacts of the proposals. The objective of this process is to facilitate the most efficient and positive design of the proposed development in order to enable the development to be incorporated into the surrounding landscape insofar as possible and to plan for the identified effects so that measures are in place to ensure the environment is protected before any negative impacts are allowed to occur.
The design of the windfarms evolved through a collaborative process from the outset, and was informed by the relevant planning policy, environmental, hydrological, geotechnical and turbine requirements. Throughout the Environmental Impact Assessment process, the layout of the proposed developments were continually revised and refined to take account of the findings of all site investigations.
In the context of increasing energy demands and prices, uncertainty in energy supply and the effects of climate change, the ability to harness renewable energy such as wind power plays a critical role in creating a sustainable future. The wind energy projects that have been permitted will significantly assist the stated goals of the Government and European Union of securing safe energy supplies, promoting a sustainable energy future, combating energy price volatility and reducing the effects of climate change.
The two projects permitted by Galway County Council will facilitate the connection of 12% of the grid connection capacity allocated to West Galway under the Eirgrid Gate 3 offers. (Gate 3 referring to the third tranche of connection offers that are currently being issued to generators to allow access to the national electricity grid network)