A wind farm is comprised of a group of wind turbines located relatively in the same area which are then interconnected with a medium voltage power collection system together with a communications network. A substation is also located on site. At the substation, this medium-voltage electrical current is increased in voltage with a transformer for connection to the higher voltage transmission system.

Wind turbines produce electricity approximately 85% of the time. The other 15% of the time they are not turning for reasons, such as: very low wind speeds, very high wind speeds, and maintenance/repair work. After six to seven months, a wind turbine will have produced as much energy as it has consumed constructing it. 

The output of a wind turbine depends on the turbine's size and the wind's speed through the rotor. A wind turbine with a net capacity factor of 31% and a capacity of 6 MW can produce more than 16,300 MWh in a year (6 MW*8760*0.31) enough to supply the electrical needs of around 2,700 average Irish households (IWEA).

The power grid operator constantly matches the electricity generation available to electricity demand. No power plant is 100% reliable, and the electricity grid is designed to cope with power plants shutting down unexpectedly, and times when the wind is not blowing. Wind is variable, but predictable. Wind farm sites are chosen after careful analysis of wind patterns. This enables a forecast of output to be made - information which can be made available to the network operators who will distribute the electricity.

Wind energy is currently the largest contributing resource of renewable energy in Ireland. It is both Ireland’s largest and cheapest renewable electricity resource.

The May 2024 Wind Energy report shows that Ireland’s wind farms provided 35 per cent of the country’s electricity over the first five months of 2024.  (Source; WEI - Wind farms provided 35 per cent of Ireland’s electricity in first five months of 2024 (windenergyireland.com)

The Climate Action Plan to tackle climate breakdown, issued by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) in 2023 (CAP 23) commits Ireland to supplying up to 80% of our electricity generation from Renewable sources by 2030.

(Source; DCCAE - www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/270956/94a5673c-163c-476a-921f-7399cdf3c8f5.pdf#page=null

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is a technology for converting solar energy to electricity via the use of semiconducting materials. Solar farms comprise of rows of PV solar arrays which are not attached to any property and are typically mounted in a field or other agricultural land. They consist of; solar panels (usually arranged in rows), cabling, pyranometer (for measuring daylight levels), inverters (to convert DC power to AC), transformer and substation. Solar farms provide a means of diversifying rural income on farms and offer the possibility for dual land use with agricultural production, mainly sheep grazing.

Photovoltaic modules (PV) (solar panels) convert sunlight into direct current electricity (DC). The inverters in the panels convert this electricity (DC) into alternating current (AC), which then goes through a transformer to reach the optimal voltage, which is finally sent to the national electricity grid. 

Solar cells are typically powered by light, rather than heat. As a result, even in non-sunny weather, solar panels will still generate power. Although solar panels work most efficiently in sunny weather thanks to the direct sunlight. 

In 2019 the Irish Government published the Climate Action Plan to build a net zero carbon energy system, and in 2021 committed to a plan of action that will make Ireland carbon-neutral by 2050. Increasing renewable energy generation from wind and solar technologies is an integral part of this plan. Renewable energy harnessing technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels are complementary technologies and maximise renewable energy generation, helping Ireland to facilitate a net zero carbon energy system. There are many benefits to co-locating dual technologies including enhanced project efficiency, effective shared use of a single grid infrastructure and reliable, continuous energy production. By integrating power sources, we can secure a more consistent energy supply.

Solar power generation is becoming the country’s fastest-growing renewable power source. Improvements in technology has meant greater quantities of Solar generated power is contributing to Irelands electricity mix.

A target of 8GW of solar has been set as part of the Climate Action Plan 2023. This target signals the vital contribution solar energy will make to the decarbonisation of Ireland's electricity system. Ireland currently has 329MW of utility-scale solar connected to the national grid. (Source; ISEA - dcb342_ff637a6960104140a73e6dd2b850ad88.pdf (irishsolarenergy.org)

In July 2018, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) released the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) High Level Design (HLD) paper, which outlines a series of auctions, designed to help Ireland achieve its 2020 and 2030 energy targets. The first RESS auction commenced in Q4 2019 and the latest (fourth) RESS auction was held in May 2024. www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/292014/84c1bed1-6883-4fb1-abd0-247a2700de15.pdf#page=null

Providing pathways for increased community participation will be a cornerstone of the new scheme, delivering on Energy White Paper commitments. It is proposed that a contribution of €2/MWh for all RES-E generation produced and seeking support via RESS auctions is provided to the local community involved.

Additionally, investment opportunities for communities and citizens in all RESS projects will be provided. To qualify for RESS auctions, projects will have to meet community investment criteria. It is proposed that projects will have to facilitate the registration of interest in investing by individuals prior to participating in RESS auctions. If successful in the auctions, these individuals will then have the opportunity to realise this investment option. This phased approach will significantly de-risk the investment process for individuals.

(Source: DCCAE - https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/RESS%20Design%20Paper.pdf)

Some people find wind farms unacceptably intrusive in our much-loved countryside. Others see them as graceful structures, generating local civic pride – unlike electricity pylons, for example, which we have lived with for decades. It’s a highly subjective judgement. Climate change – unless tackled effectively now – is far more likely to have a severe and widespread impact on the landscape in the longer term than wind plants. Our willingness to save energy and reduce our dependence on traditional means of power generation will help to safeguard the landscape for the use and enjoyment of future generations.

(Source; UK Sustainable Development Commission - http://mynyddybetwswindfarm.co.uk/w/links/Wind%20Power%20-%20your%20questions%20answered.pdf)

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No. Empower Renewables wind or solar farms involve the installation of no electrical pylons or overhead transmission lines. Instead, all transmission lines will be buried out of sight in the form of underground cables. Empower Renewables will endeavour to create the minimum visual and ecological impact by locating these transmission lines along existing public roads and access tracks where possible.

It is the duty of Empower Renewables to demonstrate during the planning process that noise levels of our turbines will not adversely affect local residents. The studies completed during this period will be used to design each new wind farm so noise levels at nearby residential homes do not exceed national planning guidelines. Noise level limits for all our projects are determined in accordance with the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, The Institute of Acoustics (IoA) Good Practice Guide and Irish legislative case law. Current guidelines in place state that noise levels shall not exceed the greater of, 5dB (A) above background noise levels or 43dB (A) when measured externally at a dwelling or other sensitive receptors.

The purchase of a family home can be the single largest financial investment we will make in our lives. It is completely justifiable that property owners, on hearing that a wind farm is to be developed in their community, would want to know more about how this may effect their property value. Several studies, including The UK Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), The UK Institute of Chartered Surveyors, The House of Commons Library and Renewable UK conclude wind farms have little or no impact on property values. A 2014 study by the London School of Economics disagrees with the above mentioned studies and found that there was a reduction. Both sides of this debate seem to agree whether a wind farm has an impact on property prices depends on the specific context of the individual wind farm, which makes robust project design and engaging with local communities all the more important.

Infrasound, sometimes referred to as low-frequency sound, is generally regarded as sound that is lower in frequency than 20 Hz or cycles per second. Infrasound is a frequently present element of the natural and man-made environment. It is produced by sources such as sea waves, rainfall, animals, vehicle traffic, buildings, appliances and indeed wind turbines, to name a few.

The overwhelming consensus in peer reviewed scientific literature, much of which is readily available on the internet, is that there is no sound evidence to indicate infrasound caused by wind turbines creates harmful health impacts. In 2016, the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg in Germany published an investigation into infrasound produced from wind turbines.

“Infrasound is caused by a large number of different natural and technical sources. It is an everyday part of our environment that can be found everywhere. Wind turbines make no considerable contribution to it. The infrasound levels generated by them lie clearly below the limits of human perception. There is no scientifically proven evidence of adverse effects in this level range. The measurement results of wind turbines also show no acoustic abnormalities for the frequency range of audible sound. Wind turbines can thus be assessed like other installations according to the specifications of the TA Lärm (noise prevention regulations). It can be concluded that, given the respective compliance with legal and professional technical requirements for planning and approval, harmful effects of noise from wind turbines cannot be deduced.”

(Source: Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg - https://www.lyrewindfarm.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/3949328/data/3878350/2/windfarm-lyre/Infrasound-and-low-frequency-noise.pdf)

Similar conclusions have also been reached by British Wind Energy Association/Renewables UK (2005), Sydney University

Medical School (2013), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2014) and The Quebec National Institute of Public Health (2015), to name a few.

Wind turbines are not considered a significant source of EMF exposure since emissions levels around wind farms are low. The overwhelming scientific evidence is that there is nothing unique to wind farms with respect to EMF exposure; in fact, magnetic field levels in the immediate vicinity of wind turbines are regularly lower than those produced by many common household electrical devices and are well below any existing regulatory guidelines with respect to human health.

(Source: Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario - http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/docs/default-source/topic-environment/health_impacts_wind_turbines)

(Source: Intrinsik Environmental Sciences - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24529028

Shadow flicker refers to the effect of the sun (low on the horizon) shining through the rotating blades of a wind turbine, casting a moving shadow. Present planning guidelines require that any possible effects of shadow flicker are mitigated entirely by installing solar sensors on the turbine which slow or shut down the turbine during times of possible shadow flicker. Therefore, no residents will be affected.

(Source: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government -housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad%2C1633%2Cen.pdf)