In 1955, Bord na Móna developed the Derrygreenagh Park housing scheme in Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. This was built by Bord na Móna for employees of Derrygreenagh. It consisted of 100 houses. By doing this, Bord na Móna provided the local community with much needed livelihood. In 1958, the first milled peat production took place. When Derrygreenagh opened around 250 people were employed there.

By the 1970s, at peak periods, over 750 people were employed. Over the years Mountlucas bog supplied the local Croghan Briquette Factory which opened in 1961. In the mid 70’s Bord na Móna established a scheme that enabled tenants to purchase their houses outright. In 2000, due to falling demand, the local Croghan Briquette factory was closed. By 2001, the Mountlucas bog had ceased production operations. There are twenty-eight 3MW Siemens 3.0DD -101 turbines in operation in Mountlucas Wind Farm. These turbines have the capacity to generate 84MW of electricity, or enough power for over 45,000 homes. Mountlucas Wind Farm displaces 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year. 

 

Ireland is committed to a low carbon future and Bord na Móna is working to help achieve this objective

Bord na Móna was established by the Irish government in 1946 to strengthen the security of energy supply and stimulate the economy of the Midlands. Nearly seventy years on and the harvesting of peat from our industrial peatlands is at a turning point. As many bogs have yielded the last of their peat harvests and are now cutaway, the company must plan a new and beneficial for these lands.

One of the main uses we see of these cutaways is the development of onshore wind farms, accompanied in some areas with natural recolonisation and the creation of biodiversity and amenity uses. The use of cutaway bog land to develop wind farms would ensure that this land continues to produce energy, in a clean, low carbon form.

 
Why Wind

 Energy?

Electricity is the very life blood of a modern economy and is essential to both our economic and social well-being. At a fundamental level, we need electricity to live, work and play. The world finds itself is in a situation where there are rising concerns over energy security, global warming and eventual fossil fuel depletion – leading to an increased interest in all forms of renewable energy, particularly wind power.

Wind is a significant renewable resource which can be deployed in a cost effective manner in Ireland and can secure our energy future in a sustainable way.

In 2009, the EU introduced the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC), encouraging the creation of forms of power that are less harmful to the environment. This Directive means that by 2020, 20% of energy used across the EU must be renewable. Each Member State now has a target defining how much of the energy it consumes must be renewable by this deadline. 

 There are twenty-eight 3MW Siemens 3.0DD -101 turbines in operation in Mountlucas Wind Farm. These turbines have the capacity to generate 84MW of electricity, or enough power for over 45,000 homes. Mountlucas Wind Farm displaces 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.

In 1955, Bord na Móna developed the Derrygreenagh Park housing scheme in Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. This was built by Bord na Móna for employees of Derrygreenagh. It consisted of 100 houses. By doing this, Bord na Móna provided the local community with much needed livelihood. In 1958, the first milled peat production took place. When Derrygreenagh opened around 250 people were employed there.

By the 1970s, at peak periods, over 750 people were employed. Over the years Mountlucas bog supplied the local Croghan Briquette Factory which opened in 1961. In the mid 70’s Bord na Móna established a scheme that enabled tenants to purchase their houses outright. In 2000, due to falling demand, the local Croghan Briquette factory was closed. By 2001, the Mountlucas bog had ceased production operations.

 

Mountlucas Wind Farm is located on 1,100 hectares of cutaway Peatlands near Daingean, Co. Offaly, and was commissioned in 2014. Mount Lucas forms part of the Derrygreenagh group of bogs that straddles the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Westmeath. Development work commenced on these bogs in 1952/53.

In 1955, Bord na Móna developed the Derrygreenagh Park housing scheme in Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. This was built by Bord na Móna for employees of Derrygreenagh. It consisted of 100 houses. By doing this, Bord na Móna provided the local community with much needed livelihood. In 1958, the first milled peat production took place. When Derrygreenagh opened around 250 people were employed there.

By the 1970s, at peak periods, over 750 people were employed. Over the years Mountlucas bog supplied the local Croghan Briquette Factory which opened in 1961. In the mid 70’s Bord na Móna established a scheme that enabled tenants to purchase their houses outright. In 2000, due to falling demand, the local Croghan Briquette factory was closed. By 2001, the Mountlucas bog had ceased production operations. There are twenty-eight 3MW Siemens 3.0DD -101 turbines in operation in Mountlucas Wind Farm. These turbines have the capacity to generate 84MW of electricity, or enough power for over 45,000 homes. Mountlucas Wind Farm displaces 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.

 

Approximately 1.5% of the area is used for the wind farm (turbine bases, roads, etc); this offers huge opportunity for other uses of this cutaway bog – including a 7km public walkway-cycleway, that is served by car parks at both the north and east entrances. This amenity is open to the community for most of the year and is free of charge.  We are also taking bookings for guided tours of the facility. Find out more information about the Mountlucas amenity.

 

Bord na Móna has developed a community gain scheme in co-operation with the communities adjacent to the Mountlucas Wind Farm. Find more information on the community gains scheme.

In Ireland, we have an abundant natural wind resource that can be harnessed to sustainably power our lives and our economy
Bord na Móna is committed to helping Ireland meet its renewable energy target of 16% by 2020 as set out in the EU Directive (2009/28/EC) which is illustrated in a useful infographic on our Wind Energy page.

In 1992, Bord na Móna commissioned Ireland’s first commercial wind farm in Bellacorick, Co. Mayo. Over the years, we have committed to investing in the development of wind farms – contributing to Ireland meeting its 2020 renewable energy target, while also helping Ireland to build a security of energy supply.

 

Bord na Móna’s interest in bringing forward new wind farms is a result of the company’s need to transition from a reliance on finite peat resources, but it is also due to the suitability of our significant land base for the development of wind farms.

Government policy has set a target for 40% of the electricity consumed in 2020 to be generated from renewable resources, within an overall renewable energy target of 16%.
 

 

Mountlucas Wind Farm is located on 1,100 hectares of cutaway Peatlands near Daingean, Co. Offaly, and was commissioned in 2014. Mount Lucas forms part of the Derrygreenagh group of bogs that straddles the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Westmeath. Development work commenced on these bogs in 1952/53.

In 1955, Bord na Móna developed the Derrygreenagh Park housing scheme in Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. This was built by Bord na Móna for employees of Derrygreenagh. It consisted of 100 houses. By doing this, Bord na Móna provided the local community with much needed livelihood. In 1958, the first milled peat production took place. When Derrygreenagh opened around 250 people were employed there. 

By the 1970s, at peak periods, over 750 people were employed. Over the years Mountlucas bog supplied the local Croghan Briquette Factory which opened in 1961. In the mid 70’s Bord na Móna established a scheme that enabled tenants to purchase their houses outright. In 2000, due to falling demand, the local Croghan Briquette factory was closed. By 2001, the Mountlucas bog had ceased production operations. There are twenty-eight 3MW Siemens 3.0DD -101 turbines in operation in Mountlucas Wind Farm. These turbines have the capacity to generate 84MW of electricity, or enough power for over 45,000 homes. Mountlucas Wind Farm displaces 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.

Approximately 1.5% of the area is used for the wind farm (turbine bases, roads, etc); this offers huge opportunity for other uses of this cutaway bog – including a 7km public walkway-cycleway, that is served by car parks at both the north and east entrances. This amenity is open to the community for most of the year and is free of charge. 

Galway Wind Park, which is located in the Cloosh Valley, near Oughterard, has been developed by Airtricity owner SSE and State forestry company Coillte as a €280 million joint venture.

The farm, which has the capacity to generate 169 mega watts (MW) of electricity, comprises 58 Siemens 3MW wind turbines.

SSE and Coilte estimate that in a typical year, the green energy produced at Galway Wind Park will offset more than 220,000 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions.

Galway Wind Park was constructed in two phases over almost three years, with main works commencing in December 2014. Phase one was fully financed by SSE at an investment cost of about €105 million while the second phase was funded by project finance of €176 million from BBVA, Rabobankand Nord LB. 

Mountlucas Wind Farm is located on 1,100 hectares of cutaway Peatlands near Daingean, Co. Offaly, and was commissioned in 2014. Mount Lucas forms part of the Derrygreenagh group of bogs that straddles the counties of Kildare, Offaly and Westmeath. Development work commenced on these bogs in 1952/53.

In 1955, Bord na Móna developed the Derrygreenagh Park housing scheme in Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. This was built by Bord na Móna for employees of Derrygreenagh. It consisted of 100 houses. By doing this, Bord na Móna provided the local community with much needed livelihood. In 1958, the first milled peat production took place. When Derrygreenagh opened around 250 people were employed there.

By the 1970s, at peak periods, over 750 people were employed. Over the years Mountlucas bog supplied the local Croghan Briquette Factory which opened in 1961. In the mid 70’s Bord na Móna established a scheme that enabled tenants to purchase their houses outright. In 2000, due to falling demand, the local Croghan Briquette factory was closed. By 2001, the Mountlucas bog had ceased production operations. There are twenty-eight 3MW Siemens 3.0DD -101 turbines in operation in Mountlucas Wind Farm. These turbines have the capacity to generate 84MW of electricity, or enough power for over 45,000 homes. Mountlucas Wind Farm displaces 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year. 

Ireland is committed to a low carbon future and Bord na Móna is working to help achieve this objective

Bord na Móna was established by the Irish government in 1946 to strengthen the security of energy supply and stimulate the economy of the Midlands. Nearly seventy years on and the harvesting of peat from our industrial peatlands is at a turning point. As many bogs have yielded the last of their peat harvests and are now cutaway, the company must plan a new and beneficial use for these lands.

One of the main uses we see of these cutaways is the development of onshore wind farms, accompanied in some areas with natural recolonisation and the creation of biodiversity and amenity uses. The use of cutaway bog land to develop wind farms would ensure that this land continues to produce energy, in a clean, low carbon form.

Electricity is the very life blood of a modern economy and is essential to both our economic and social well-being. At a fundamental level, we need electricity to live, work and play. The world finds itself is in a situation where there are rising concerns over energy security, global warming and eventual fossil fuel depletion – leading to an increased interest in all forms of renewable energy, particularly wind power.

Wind is a significant renewable resource which can be deployed in a cost effective manner in Ireland and can secure our energy future in a sustainable way.

In 2009, the EU introduced the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC), encouraging the creation of forms of power that are less harmful to the environment. This Directive means that by 2020, 20% of energy used across the EU must be renewable. Each Member State now has a target defining how much of the energy it consumes must be renewable by this deadline.