Cork firm in €110m wind farm bid

A CORK firm is investing more than €110 million in the development of a major wind farm and biomass complex in Wales which will create 135 jobs.

EcoPellets has purchased a 55 acre site at Llangefni industrial park and is working with the Welsh Assembly Government on proposals for the redevelopment of the land.

The company, which supplies wood pellet fuel, intends to apply for planning permission for a wood-biomass electricity plant and a four turbine commercial wind farm. The biomass plant and wind farm will be designed to generate 40MW of electricity, which is enough to provide power for 50,000 homes.

The company also plans to work with the assembly government to market sections of the site to investors.

EcoPellets director Declan O’Donoghue said: “This investment is large by renewable energy standards and will provide enough green power for 50,000 Welsh homes.

“Applications for building and operating permits are in preparation and dependent on the necessary permissions from the local authority, we will be ready to commence the main construction activity early next year.”

More than 100 construction jobs will be created during the three-year construction of the complex and 35 full-time jobs, mostly for technicians and power engineers.

“Wales has vast quantities of clean, inexhaustible renewable energy resources. Wales has one of the best wind regimes in the world and an excellent climate for growing wood. These clean energy sources currently supply just a tiny fraction of our energy requirements now but this is changing.

“Renewable electricity is more than just the biggest solution to our energy needs and response to climate change – it is an enormous energy resource that can bring long-term business benefits to Wales,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

“The significant investment now being made now by companies such as EcoPellets will increase our use of local renewable energy resources, achieve a more secure and stable energy supply for the long term and provide new, well paid energy jobs for future generations,” he added.

Last week a Galway engineering firm announced it is creating 250 jobs after developing wind turbines which generate power even in a light breeze.

The C&F Group, based in Athenry, claims the breakthrough technology is a world-first, generating electricity at speeds as low as 1.2 metres a second and powering homes 350 days a year.

C&F will invest €20 million over the next four years, expanding the Athenry plant by 70,000sq feet.

The jobs will be in design, engineering, manufacturing and management, sales and after-sales, with staff taken on over the next two years.

C&F’s turbine design is capable of producing 40% more power than existing models with giant industrial turbines and wind farms capable of generating power even in a light wind.