Renewable energy generation from onshore wind farms across Ireland will be significantly increased using a €155 million loan to Bord Gáis from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB support will contribute to the construction and operation of six onshore wind farms, in Counties Tipperary, Clare and Kilkenny, with a total generation capacity of 141 MW. The expansion programme, representing a total investment of €311 million is expected to be completed by 2014.
This initiative represents a key step in increasing renewable energy in Ireland and in helping to reduce fossil fuel use. The programme will increase the operational wind capacity of Bord Gáis wind farms from 234MW to 365MW, an increase of more than 50%. The scheme will help Ireland to achieve the country’s target of ensuring that 20% of energy production is from renewable sources by 2020.
"The EIB’s funding of our wind farm projects is a major vote of confidence in the strategic direction of the company and, indeed, in Irish Government policy in relation to promoting wind energy development in Ireland. Bord Gáis is a significant player in the wind industry in Ireland, operating over 15% of installed capacity and powering nearly 180,000 homes across the country. This EIB funding is critical in supporting our roadmap for wind. Over the next three years, we will add a further 250MWs of wind generating capacity to our portfolio," said Dave Kirwan, managing director of Bord Gáis Energy.
Bord Gáis Energy owns and operates 132 turbines on 13 wind farms in Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Donegal and Tyrone.
Over the last five years the European Investment Bank has provided more than €1.4 billion for energy infrastructure in Ireland, including renewable energy, improvements to transmission, electric car infrastructure and gas power generation.
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