Ireland's biggest wind farm opens in Donegal

At the official opening of Energia’s new 95 megawatt wind farm at Meenadreen are, left to right, The Mayor of Donegal Town, Patricia Callaghan, Peter Baillie, managing director, Energia Renewables and Ian Thom, Group CEO, Viridian Group. Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography.

IRELAND’S largest ever wind farm was officially opened in South Donegal this morning.

The 38 turbine operation at Meenadreen will supply electricity to homes and businesses all over the country.

Each turbine stands 115 metres high with a rotor diameter of 90 metres, generating power from strong wind pathways in the area. As Energia’s newest wind farm, Meenadreen alone can power up to 50,000 homes using wind energy which will reduce Ireland’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100,000 tonnes each year.

The new wind farm was formally opened by Ian Thom, Group Chief Executive of Energia’s parent company Viridian Group and Peter Bailie, Managing Director of Energia Renewables, together with the Mayor of Donegal Town, Patricia Callaghan.

Over 250 children from local primary schools will tour the new facility tomorrow (Friday), marking Global Wind Day 2017.

Energia has also announced the funding of €95,000 for a third phase of its Meenadreen Community Fund, which has already invested €45,000 to date in projects of benefit to local communities throughout the surrounding region. The fund is independently administered by Community Foundation Ireland.

Ian Thom, Group Chief Executive of Viridian, said “Energia is one of Ireland’s leading energy investment partners underpinning national competitiveness and the long term sustainability and security of energy supply for the future. We’re helping to achieve Ireland’s renewable energy targets through our major renewable energy portfolio where we provide electricity from wind farms all over Ireland.

“We are proud to bring Ireland’s largest wind farm onto the national grid to power homes and businesses all over the island with naturally and sustainably produced electricity.”

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