4th November 2024: Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables are inviting members of the local community to a series of upcoming public consultation sessions, in Ahascragh and Ballygar in Co. Galway and Ballyforan in Co. Roscommon, regarding their proposed new wind farm – Derryfadda Wind Farm.
Derryfadda Wind Farm is the latest development proposed as part of Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables’ joint venture partnership. The proposed location for Derryfadda Wind Farm is on Bord na Móna’s landbank in the Derryfadda, Boughill and Gowla Bogs located in Galway, along the border with Roscommon. The project team is now seeking feedback from the public on its plans to develop a wind farm in this area. As the project is at an early phase of development, the proposed number, location, and height of turbines are still to be determined.
The joint venture partnership is fully committed to informing and engaging with the local community through an active communication programme. As part of this, Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables have appointed a Community Engagement and Stakeholder Team, including a dedicated Community Liaison Officer. This team will be present at the upcoming consultation sessions to gather feedback from the public and address any questions.
Details of the upcoming public consultation events for the Derryfadda Wind Farm Project:
| Date | Time | Location |
| 5th November 2024 | 5 – 8.30pm | Ballyforan Community Centre, Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon, H53 H7D1 |
| 6th November 2024 | 5 – 8.30pm | Mattie McDonagh Centre, Market Square, Ballygar, Co. Galway, F42 V211 |
| 7th November 2024 | 5 – 8.30pm | Ahascragh Community Centre, Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, H53 FK35 |
Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables will develop a draft layout for the wind farm in the coming months. Further public consultation events will then take place to gather additional insights from the local community ahead of the planning submission in late 2025/early 2026. If delivered, the Derryfadda Wind Farm would bring a range of benefits to the local area, including a dedicated Community Benefit Fund.
John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy for Bord na Móna, said: “We would like to invite members of the local community to learn more about our proposed Derryfadda Wind Farm project. Once operational, this wind farm will play a key role in supporting the supply of green energy to our national grid while also supporting economic opportunities locally through job creation in the construction phase, and down the line in order to manage operations and maintenance of the wind farm. These consultations are an important part of our project planning, providing an opportunity for members of the community to learn more about the proposed development, and in turn enabling the project team to hear feedback and views.”
Paul Bonar, Development Project Manager for SSE Renewables, said: “We are keen to meet with the local communities and hear their thoughts on our early-stage plans for the Derryfadda Wind Farm. This joint venture project will make a significant contribution towards Ireland’s net zero targets – providing cheaper, cleaner, and more secure electricity to our national grid – whilst delivering a broad range of benefits at both regional and local levels. This will include a dedicated Community Benefit Fund, which is something both SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna are proud to have been delivering at our operational sites for many years.”
Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables announced their joint venture earlier this year, one of the largest onshore renewables joint ventures in the history of the state. If fully delivered, it is expected the portfolio of windfarms would generate 800 MW, enough renewable electricity to meet the energy demand of around half a million homes, while displacing half a million tonnes of carbon emissions each year – making a substantial contribution to Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy goals set out in the national Climate Action Plan 2024.