The Yellow River Wind Farm, situated outside Rhode in County Offaly, has achieved a significant milestone as turbine installation reaches the halfway point. The latest progress sees the installation of the 15th turbine out of a total of 29 Nordex N117/3600 units designated for the wind farm.
SSE Renewables initiated the construction of the wind farm in October 2022, with the installation of the first turbine occurring in January. All turbines are scheduled to be installed by the Nordex Group by the conclusion of Summer 2024, paving the way for the wind farm to commence commercial operations in early 2025.
The project has been a source of employment, supporting up to 150 full-time construction phase jobs at its peak delivery, according to SSE. Once operational, the Yellow River Wind Farm is anticipated to generate 101MW of renewable energy output, capable of powering 67,000 homes annually and offsetting 66,000 metric tonnes of carbon per annum, thereby contributing significantly to Ireland's 2030 renewable energy targets.
Heather Donald, Director of Onshore Renewables Development and Construction, expressed enthusiasm about reaching the halfway mark, stating, “Reaching the halfway mark on turbine installation at Yellow River is another exciting milestone for the project.” She emphasized the team's dedication to maintaining momentum and thanked the surrounding communities for their cooperation.
James Lappin, Project Manager for the Nordex Group, conveyed his satisfaction with the progress, remarking, “At the Nordex Group, we're very happy to be working alongside SSE on this project, and passing the halfway point means we are one step closer to helping contribute to Ireland's greener future in the long term.”
Turbine components continue to be transported from the Port of Galway to the Midlands site, with deliveries carefully scheduled in the early hours of the morning to minimize disruption to the local community in Rhode.
Yellow River Wind Farm has secured a contract for all of the site's planned installed capacity of renewable energy power under the Irish Government's RESS 3 auction round for new onshore wind farms. This development underscores the farm's pivotal role in advancing Ireland's renewable energy landscape.
