Plans lodged for wind farm development in rural Kilkenny
Killoshulan Renewable Energy Limited lodge application for ten wind turbines in north Kilkenny with An Coimisiún Pleanála
Plans have been formally lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála by Killoshulan Renewable Energy Limited for a wind farm development consisting of ten turbines and a meteorological mast in north Kilkenny.
The area of development includes the townlands of Barna, Killoshulan, Spahill, Frankford or Ballykieran, Foyle South, Clomantagh (Mt Garret), Urlingford, Mountfinn, Balief Lower, Balief Upper, Coolcashin, Garrydague, Ballygowney, Ballyring Upper, Lisdowney, Seskin Little, Seskin North, Seskin South and Ballyconra, County Kilkenny.
The ten wind turbines proposed would have an overall turbine tip height of 185 metres; a rotor blade diameter of 163 metres; and hub height of 103.5 metres.
Provision is being sought in the application for the subsequent decommissioning of the wind turbines and meteorological mast, following a 35-year operational life from the date of full commissioning of the wind turbines.
Permission is also being sought for a battery energy storage system facility, a 110kV onsite electrical substation, 110kV underground electrical cabling, and associated infrastructure and works.
Killoshulan Renewable Energy Ltd state on their project website that they will “continue to update all residents closest to the development on the project’s progress.”
They added that following the lodgement of the applications, “members of the community can make submissions to the relevant authority during the assigned public consultation period.”
Killoshulan Renewable Energy Ltd further added that they “will continue to be available to discuss any individual queries in relation to the application.”
Local community group ‘Seskin Preservation Group’ have cited concerns around the number of wind farms being proposed in the general area, including this most recent proposal at Killoshulan.
Recently, a fresh local plea was made in the Dáil by Kilkenny TD Natasha Newsome Drennan for a moratorium on new windfarm developments as public frustration grows over the Government’s lack of updated national wind energy planning guidelines.
Deputy Drennan is seeking to pause such developments until planning guidelines, currently dating back to 2006, are updated to accommodate for increased height of modern turbines.
The planning application from Killoshulan Renewable Energy Limited was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála on October 30 and the case is due to be decided by October 28, 2027.