The seventh and final turbine has been installed at Lenalea Wind Farm in Co Donegal.
It follows close collaboration with EirGrid, which has completed commissioning and energisation of Lenalea's 110kV substation, resulting in the site now being connected to the national transmission system.
The connection to the grid paves the way to the commissioning of the turbines. The commissioning and testing of the turbines will take place from August to October this year, following which it is anticipated to have the site fully operational in November.
The 30.1MW onshore wind project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland and is located around 10km southwest of Letterkenny. Once operational, the site could power up to 20,000 Irish homes each year and offset 24,500 tonnes of carbon per annum, contributing to the delivery of Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy targets.
Lenalea's first turbine was installed on 23 June with the seventh and final turbine successfully installed on 9 August 2023. Vestas has supplied and installed all seven V117-4.2 MW turbines, which have been boosted to a rated capacity of 4.3MW for the project.
SSE Renewables, the lead developer on the project, will also be responsible for the management of Lenalea in the operations phase, which is scheduled to commence in late 2023.
A Community Fund Fund will be available once the project becomes operational. The delivery of Lenalea Wind Farm represents a joint total capital investment of more than €40 million by development partners SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland.
This investment is helping to support Co Donegal’s job creation and local economy, with over 150,000 working hours recorded using regional contractors employing significant local workforce.
Ghislain Demeuldre, SSE Renewables’ Head of Onshore Development for Ireland, said, "Installing the final turbine at Lenalea is a landmark moment in the delivery of this project and particularly satisfying when this coincides with the grid connection. It is testament to the commitment by our project team as well as by our project’s supply chain partners from Adman who turned the first sod, OMEXOM who built the substation, EirGrid and ESBN who commissioned the substation and finally turbine supplier Vestas supported on the ground by Glenturas.
"They all have worked tirelessly since day one to reach this important milestone. We are also particularly grateful for their dedication to safety as everyone involved on site to date was able to get home injury-free. We are now on track to enter commercial operation later this year."
Mary Lynch, Portfolio Director at FuturEnergy Ireland, said, "Delivering the project ahead of schedule, all while keeping a first-rate safety record, are two notable achievements for all directly involved. Lenalea Wind Farm is scheduled to be generating power later this year and will then be able to contribute to achieving Ireland’s renewable energy targets. We must acknowledge the support from the local community throughout the development and delivery of the project, as well as the various local and national public bodies and agencies."
Elizabeth Anne Read, Vestas Associate Project Manager for the Lenalea wind project, said, "It is a proud moment to see all the turbines installed on time which is a testament to the great collaboration between all stakeholders involved. This is just the latest in a number of exciting onshore renewable energy projects in our Irish pipeline, all of which will make an important contribution to the country’s 2030 targets."
