Galway Wind Park

Irish wind farm

Wilderness

Rotor diameter101 m
331 ftSite elevation

125 m (410 ft)
235 m (771 ft)

Power generation Units operational58 x 3 MWMake and modelSiemens SWT-3.0-101Nameplate capacity174 MWExternal linksWebsitewww.sserenewables.com/onshore-wind/ireland/galway-wind-park/

[edit on Wikidata]

Galway Wind Park is Ireland's largest onshore wind farm.^[1] Located in Connemara's Cloosh Valley west of Moycullen, County Galway. The wind park was co-developed by SSE Renewables and Coillte at a cost of €280 million and consists of 58 Siemens 3 MW SWT-3.0-101 wind turbines.^[2] The wind park provides energy to around 89,000 homes, which is equivalent to 80% of the homes in Galway.^[3]

Development

The project was developed over two phases and includes four permitted wind farms which are Galway Cloosh, Lettercraffroe, Seecon and Uggool.^[4] Phase one of the project consists of 22 turbines located on the Uggool and Lettercraffroe sites and began construction in 2015. It was developed and financed solely by SSE Renewables and consists of 22 turbines. Phase two was developed and financed through a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Coillte. The second phase consists of 36 turbines located at the Cloosh and Seecon sites.^[5]

The Port of Galway was used in the development of the wind park, and turbine tops, hubs and blades were offloaded in the port and transported to the site by tucks during the night.^[6] The 55 meter long blades were among some of the largest in the industry at the time of construction and a section of the Lough Atalia Road which passed under the rail bridge had to be lowered in order to facilitate the transportation of the turbine blades.^[7]

Generated electricity is sent to the nearby Uggool substation where the voltage is increased to 110kV. An underground power cable joins the Galway-Screeb 110kV overhead line and connects the wind park with the electrical grid.^[4]

References

^ "Galway to boast biggest wind farm in the country". connachttribune.ie. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
^ "Ireland: on the cusp of a wind energy revolution – DW – 01/15/2018". dw.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
^ "First phase of Galway Wind Park completed". connachttribune.ie. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Galway Wind Park". Power Technology. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
^ "Ireland reaps Galway wind reward". reNEWS - Renewable Energy News. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
^ Conroy, MacDara. "Time Lapse Video Of Giant Wind Turbine Blade At Galway Harbour". afloat.ie. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
^ "Port of Galway Wind Energy Project | Port of Galway". Port of Galway | Inspiration from the past, Innovation in the present, A legacy for the future... 28 March 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2023.