Cork wind farm open for business.

A new wind farm at Caherdowney in Cork has started supplying energy to businesses in Ireland.

Near Macroom, close to the Cork-Kerry border, the €14m Caherdowney Wind Farm has the capacity to produce 9.2 megawatts of renewable electricity.

The main body of the facility’s four turbines stands 64.5 metres and their rotor blades have a diameter of 70 metres. The site was chosen due to its high average wind speeds (category one rated). At full generating capacity, the wind farm is capable of powering up to 9,200 homes.

Caherdowney wind farm is operated by Energia, and is owned by the Irish Infrastructure Fund and Energia.

The Irish Infrastructure Fund, established by Irish Life Investment Managers and managed by AMP Capital, will secure and invest up to E1bn from global and Irish institutional investors for investment in significant Irish infrastructure assets. The fund has the majority stake in Caherdowney with Energia having a minority stake in the farm.

Energia is one of Ireland’s leading providers of sustainable energy green and has 550MW of operational renewable electricity capacity contracted within its energy portfolio, with a further 290MW of wind farm projects currently in development across Ireland. Energia currently has a 25pc market share of the Irish wind generation sector. www.energia.ie

Peter Baillie, Managing Director, Energia Renewables said: “We are delighted to be producing sustainable energy in Caherdowney and supplying it to businesses around Ireland. This €14m wind farm represents another significant investment in renewable capacity by Energia. Energia Group is one of the most significant contributors to the achievement of Ireland’s renewable targets and one of the largest investors in the renewable sector.”

“As part of our commitment to the environment, Energia Renewables has invested €200 million in developing renewable sources of energy. Our most recent projects are at Corkermore and Drumloughill Wind Farms in County Donegal and Crighshane and Church Hill in County Tyrone.”

“We want to extend a big thank you to the local community for the support it has given this project. The development of Caherdowney is a very positive step forward for renewable energy in Ireland and local support for the project is a key element to their success.”

“All of our wind farm developments bring significant benefits to the local economies, including job creation, increased rates for the local authorities and improvements to local infrastructure such as roads.

Energia, a member of the Viridian group, is the largest independent energy supplier in Ireland. They are an integrated energy business with access to one of the largest and most comprehensive portfolios of conventional and renewable power in Ireland.