Having just officially opened its first developed wind farm, Bord Gais Energy (BGE) plans to bring a second facility on stream in 2012 as part of a €400 million investment programme to create a further 250MWs of wind energy over the next three years. Bord Gáis Energy’s first developed wind farm, Ballymartin Wind Farm, is located at Mullinavat, County Kilkenny. The second windfarm to become operational in 2012 will be Garracummer Wind Farm in County Tipperary, which will bring an additional 42MW of wind energy online.
Bord Gais Energy is a key player in the Irish wind energy market and has 15% of the installed wind capacity in Ireland at present. The company owns and operates 132 turbines on 13 wind farms in eight counties – Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Donegal and Tyrone. The company’s long-term investment in renewable energy reflects and supports the Government’s target of having 40% of electricity produced by renewables by 2020. It is envisaged that wind energy will provide the largest source of renewable energy to achieve these targets.
John Mullins, chief executive of Bord Gais, comments: “The launch of Ballymartin Wind Farm is a significant milestone in Bord Gais’ renewable energy agenda. At present, our windfarms can provide energy to 150,000 homes across this country, and by the end of 2012, this will increase to 180,000 homes. We are committed to providing a sustainable energy product for our customers and we are actively pursuing a portfolio that reduces the carbon footprint associated with providing this energy. Long-term investment in the development of Irish wind is a cornerstone of our investment strategy and we will ensure Ireland maximises the benefit of one of its most precious indigenous resources – the wind.” In the past five years alone Bord Gais has invested Eur2 billion in the Irish economy.”