Lenalea Wind Farm enters key phase of construction

The landmark is a significant construction milestone in the delivery of this new onshore wind farm and is being announced on Global Wind Day – the worldwide celebration of the power and possibilities of wind-generated power that is held on 15 June every year.

Concrete pours for the wind farm’s seven turbine foundations are scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. The 30 MW wind farm, which will be capable of generating enough renewable energy to power over 20,000 homes and offset 20 million Kg of carbon per annum, is expected to be completed in late 2023. A substantial Community Fund will be available once the project becomes operational.

The Lenalea Wind Farm project is located in the rural upland setting of central Donegal, approximately 10km southwest of Letterkenny and within the townlands of Cark, Killmansey, Lenalea, Kirkneedy and Rareagh.  The site is also located in close proximity to SSE Renewables’ existing Meentycat Wind Farm.

Delivery of the Lenalea Wind Farm project represents a joint total capital investment of around €36 million by development partners SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland. This investment will help support County Donegal’s green recovery, working closely with contractor, Omagh-based Adman Civil Projects Ltd., or through local subcontractors.

"Completing our first concrete pour is a key part of the construction phase for Lenalea Wind Farm and demonstrates significant progress on the ground. This project will play a key role in advancing our strategic objective at SSE Renewables to drive the transition to a zero-carbon future and meeting Ireland’s climate action goals. Working with our co-development partners FuturEnergy Ireland and the communities in County Donegal we look forward to bringing to fruition the positive social and economic benefits that Lenalea Wind Farm will deliver during its construction and its operational lifetime," said Paul Rodgers Project Manager for Lenalea Wind Farm, at SSE Renewables.

"This is a landmark moment for the project with subsequent pours scheduled for the coming weeks that will complete this phase of construction. As a Donegal native, I am delighted to see Lenalea Wind Farm DAC procuring the services of the local contracting workforce and sourcing construction materials nearby, which reflects the local employment opportunities that wind energy projects can create. In partnership with SSE Renewables, we are very much looking forward to seeing Lenalea Wind Farm help Ireland achieve its climate targets, increase the country’s energy security and boost the local economy and community," said Emmet Mc Laughlin FuturEnergy Ireland’s project manager for Lenalea Wind Farm.

Delivery of Vestas turbines to Lenalea Wind Farm is expected to commence in Spring 2023, with installation of the seven Vestas V117-4.2 MW turbines in 4.3 MW operating mode scheduled to take place at the site over the course of Summer 2023. Full wind farm commissioning and completion is expected in late 2023.

A locally based Community Liaison Officer, Seamus Herron, is available to members of the local community to answer any queries or concerns in relation to the wind farm and can be contacted via clo@sse.com. More information on the project is available on www.lenaleawindfarm.com.