Galway may become exporter of wind power

Date Published: 21-Apr-2011

By Dara Bradley

More than 70% of Galway’s electricity needs – sufficient to power 236,000 homes in the county – could be generated through wind energy by 2020, according to targets set out by Galway County Council.

Galway also has the potential to become a ‘net exporter’ of energy if it develops other renewable energy options such as ocean and wave energy, which would enable the county to supply more electricity than is consumed here.

But in order to achieve these targets The County Galway Wind Energy Strategy 2011-2016 indicates that the county’s electricity grid will have to be developed and expanded further if it is to be able to facilitate more wind farms and turbines.

The strategy, however, has identified that just one per cent of the county, in an area between Moycullen and Oughterard, as ‘Strategic Areas’ (where wind energy is considered appropriate), and 48% of the county, including the vast majority of Connemara, hinterlands of Oranmore, and South Galway between Gort and Portumna, are labelled ‘Not Normally Permissible Areas”, which are generally not suitable for the development of wind farms.

The areas are labelled ‘Not Normally Permissible’ because of environmental and heritage designations such as SACs. A further 32% of the county is considered not suitable for commercial wind farm development because wind speeds in these areas are too slow. This area is between Gort and Portumna.

The strategy sets out that at a minimum 40% of Galway’s electricity needs can be met from renewable energy sources but it will “work towards” a target of 500 MW of wind energy by 2020, the equivalent of 70% of the county’s needs.

County Manager Martina Moloney told the meeting that Galway has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe and this strategy was aimed at tapping into its potential.

The strategy would give an indication to potential developers and investors in wind farms, what parts of the county would be most suited to wind farm development.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.