Planning flaws may force wind farm closures, lobbyist warns

The decommissioning of this many wind farms could lead to a loss of approximately 20% of the country’s installed wind energy capacity, according to Wind Energy Ireland.

Dozens of wind energy farms could be forced to shut down their operations in the next six years due to chronic issues in the planning system, an industry body has cautioned.

Nearly 80 wind farms with an installed capacity of 854MW will reach the end of their planning contracts between now and the end of the decade. Wind Energy Ireland warned that these projects may be decommissioned if developers cannot extend their planning permission or repower.

“Ireland’s oldest wind farm is 32-years-old this year and still producing power. Many of these wind farms which are under threat could operate for five, ten, or even more years,” said chief executive Noel Cunniffe.

The decommissioning of this many wind farms could lead to a loss of 20% of the country’s installed wind energy capacity and drive up carbon emissions and prices, according to Wind Energy Ireland.

Mr Cunniffe said the existing “extremely slow rate of approvals for new projects” means there is “a very real likelihood that by the late 2020s we will be connecting fewer wind farms than we will be shutting down”.

Wind Energy Ireland has called for reforms to the notoriously laborious planning system to make it easier for wind farm owners to extend the duration of their planning permissions.

The lobby group said most wind farm planning permissions in the Republic include a condition which restricts their operational life to 20 or 25 years and, to continue generating, the wind farm operator must apply for planning permission for life extension. 

This can often be a costly and time-consuming process with no guarantee of success.

“There is simply no reason, in the middle of twin climate and energy crises, to decommission operational wind farms because of planning restrictions, unsupported by evidence, imposed decades ago,” Mr Cunniffe said.

A dark cloud cast over the onshore wind industry is a bad omen for the budding offshore wind sector,  which hasn’t developed at the same rate as wind farms on land.

This sector was rocked last month when logistics firm Doyle Shipping Group axed plans to redevelop the dockyard facility in Cork Harbour to service offshore wind projects in a multimillion-euro contract.

The planning permission, held by the Port of Cork, to build the infrastructure runs out at the end of next year.

It is understood that a major reason the deal collapsed was due to the uncertainty of whether planning permission would be granted again or in a timely manner.