Tall windfarm planned near historic Laois round tower village

Planning permission is being sought for a new windfarm in Laois, near to a controversial planned electricity substation and a round tower that is a national monument.

International energy company Statkraft is to seek a permit directly from An Bord Pleanala to install 13 turbines, each 180 metres tall, over six times as tall as Timahoe Round Tower, which is some two kilometres from the windfarm.

The turbines in the proposed Coolglass Windfarm are planned in two groups across two prominent Laois hills, with seven on Fossey Mountain, Timahoe, and six further south on Wolfhill, stretching over 183 acres (74.32 ha). 

They are in the townlands of Fossy Upper, Aghoney, Gorreelagh, Knocklead, Scotland, Brennanshill, Monamantry, Coolglass, Crissard, Kylenabehy, Monamanry, Brennanshill, Knocklead, Aghoney, Timahoe, Carrigeen, Ballygormill South, Money Upper, Hophall, Rathleague, Ballymooney and Rathbrennan.

The site lies 11km southeast of Portlaoise and 11km east of Abbeyleix, close to the villages of Timahoe, Spink and Wolfhill.

It would be 700m away from the nearest house, and is promised to generate enough electricity to power 60,000 homes. 

Below: Montage of the turbines viewed from Timahoe village.

The Coolglass planning application notes that views of the tower along the R426 road from the Portlaoise side will include seven of the proposed turbines, but says that at some points this is "heavily screened by large trees that line the road".

"Whilst the Proposed Development may cause a distraction from the views towards the asset along this approach, the asset as a marker within the landscape is still able to be appreciated and understood. The asset is a National Monument and is therefore of high sensitivity. The magnitude of impact upon their cultural significance is anticipated to be Very Low Adverse, and as such the significance of effects is moderate," they say.

Permission is also to be sought for a 102 metre tall permanent mast and a A 110 kV electrical substation.

Also sought are permanent turbine hardstands and concrete turbine foundations, two control buildings, underground cabling, a wastewater holding tank, and a 33kV collector cable circuit to connect the two wind farm clusters along the L3851/Knocklead Road.

There will also be permanent internal site access roads and upgrade of existing internal site access roads, and underground electrical and communications cabling to connect the wind turbines to its substation. 

A new site entrance slip road from the L3851 / Knocklead local road is needed to facilitate the delivery of abnormal loads and turbine component deliveries, as well as widening of the road.

Existing forestry has to be removed to deliver construction materials and during the operational phase.

Below: map of the proposed windfarm.

There will have to be temporary upgrade roadworks on the turbine delivery route, at a roundabout at the southern exit of Junction 16 of the M7, the R425/N80 roundabout and the R426 – L3851 junction.

The windfarm would have a ten year construction permit, and a 35 year lifespan.

A later application will seek permission to lay cables connecting the windfarm to the grid, and to install a walking track across Fossey Mountain to connect to other existing trails and to Timahoe. 

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The region is already earmarked for other windfarm and electricity projects.

EirGrid is building a large electricity substation 2.5km north of Timahoe, which was legally contested by residents for many years.

An 18 turbine windfarm planned by Coillte and also disputed legally by locals, has planning permission in Cullenagh, 5km east of Timahoe. Some 7km southwest will be Pinewood windfarm with 11 turbines.

Laois has only two windfarms in operation. Eight turbines in Gortahile and four in Baunaghra give 37MW or 0.7% of wind capacity to Ireland.

Three more have planning approval to offer a possible total 120MW. They include two turbines in Rathdowney, 11 in Knockardagul / Ironmills and 18 between Ballyroan and Timahoe. If built, they would jointly supply 120MW or 1.5% of Ireland's needs by 2030.