*A decision on the plans will be made by the beginning of July.
PLANS for three new wind turbines near Kilrush have been submitted to Clare County Council.
The new renewable energy structures are proposed to be built at a site encompassing the townlands of Moanmore Lower, Moanmore South, Tullabrack, Tullabrack East and Gower South, close to Moyasta off the N67.
Moanmore Lower Green Energy Ltd have applied for the erection of three wind turbines with an overall ground to blade tip height of 150m, with a rotor diameter of 136m and a hub height of 82m and a total generating capacity of 15MW.
Also included in the plans is the construction of a new site entrance along with temporary office structures and car parking facilities. Access tracks, internal cabling and grid connections are also planned.
Moanmore Lower Green Energy is a company based in Station Road, Limerick. Its directors are David McDonnell and Patrick Mohr. The company is a subsidiary of Greensource Energy Ltd.
In a planning application issued to Clare County Council, the site’s location is listed as being “located 3km north-west of Kilrush, Co. Clare, 6.8km south-west of Cooraclare village, and 7.1km north of the county boundary between counties Clare and Kerry”.
The area is described as being “open to consideration” as part of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. This allows for wind energy projects to be built subject to appropriate environmental assessments and community engagement. The area is already home to six operational wind turbines as part of the Tullabrack Windfarm.
The planning application cites the current government’s climate action plan as justification for the development as this plan aims to make Ireland completely carbon neutral by the year 2050. In relation to this, the proposed development is “anticipated to have the capacity to generate between 12-15MW towards these targets, helping to mitigate the effects of the climate emergency”.
The planning statement also highlights the economic importance of the development to the region. According to a report entitled The Economic Impact of Onshore Wind in Ireland, there is potential for jobs in the industry to grow from 5130 to 7020 nationally. Total industrial output is also expected to grow from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2030.
In terms of a local impact, the proposed development “provides the opportunity to reinforce the existing local renewable energy industry knowledge and skills base, providing the stability and diversity to the rural economy that can stimulate further industry investment to take place”, according to the planning statement.
Clare is already home to a number of windfarms throughout its landscape, including sites at Slievecallan, Glenmore, Booltiagh and Boolynagleragh.. No submissions or objections have been made as of yet. The local authority is due to decide on the development by the 2nd of July 2025.
