Plans for Kildare Bord Na Mona wind farm not due to be lodged until next year

Plans for a 47-turbine Kildare wind farm, which if approved would be the biggest onshore wind farm in Ireland, have been delayed by Bord na Móna.

On it's website, the company said it had intended to apply for planning permission for the Ballydermot Wind Farm in late 2022. However, following a request for an update from the Leinster Leader, the company responded; "Bord na Móna is continuing to prepare the planning application for the proposed Ballydermot Wind Farm, with a view to lodging an application in 2025."

There are several towns and villages surrounding the site including Allenwood, Carbury, Clonbullogue, Derrinturn, Edenderry and Rathangan. The company says there will be a minimum setback distance of 880m to the nearest house from a turbine.  There are 639 homes within 2,000m of the proposed turbines, including 45 houses within 1,000m The wind farm, if it gets the go ahead, is expected to produce up to 270MW of electricity, enough to power 150,000 homes for a year.

In August 2022, Bord na Mona has published the final locations for its 47 turbines with an overall blade tip height ranging from 200 to 220 metres. It is also wants to build a substation to access to the national grid.

The company also published an amenity plan in August and circulated it to households in the vicinity of the proposed project. 

The key amenities include: a strategic route network that provides access links to surrounding settlements and sites of interest, a network of internal paths and cycleways that provide looped routes and a dedicated equestrian trail, a natural play park, trail infrastructure such as benches and shelters, waymarker posts and orientation information boards and key amenity access infrastructure such as car parks and toilets.

Meanwhile, construction began earlier this year on the Cushaling Wind Farm, which is located between Edenderry and Rathangan. The nine-turbine development is expected to deliver 55.8MW of power, represents a €95 million investment by Statkraft. 

From, July 8 large deliveries of turbine components and blades were due to commence. These deliveries take place between the hours of 12pm to 7am on specified routes and are escorted by gardaí. 

The operation is being carried out Monday to Friday in the early hours of the morning for approximately nine weeks.