Project Next Steps

• Continue to progress the detailed environmental assessments which will culminate in an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). The EIAR is a document that describes the proposed project and assesses its potential effects on the environment and local community. It ensures that any sensitive areas are protected throughout the project’s design process and forms part of the planning submission to the consenting authority.

• Detailed on-site wind measurement has commenced. A meteorological mast has been erected to measure the potential wind speeds available in the area. This met mast is a temporary structure that will be put in place for approximately 18 months, to accurately measure wind speeds within the Study Area, after which time the mast will be removed.

• Scoping documents have been issued to numerous statutory and non-statutory organisations, including National Parks and Wildlife, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Telecommunication providers, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Kilkenny County Council, Fáilte Ireland, The Aviation Authority plus many more. 

• Continue to progress detailed grid connection options and turbine component delivery routes.

• Bat species monitoring has commenced and will continue over the coming year. Monitoring the bat populations within the project study area will ensure any bat activity and bat habitat is protected during the project’s design process.

• Background noise level monitoring will be carried out over the coming months by installing sound metres at noise sensitive locations. This will form part of the studies to assess the potential impact that noise from the proposed project could have on the surrounding area.

• Geotechnical site investigation works have begun. This involves digging small trial pits or drilling narrow boreholes to look at the soil and rock underneath the surface. Engineers will test samples of the soil and rock to understand how strong the ground is and how it drains. This will help to determine the best locations where infrastructure such as turbines and access roads might be placed. These works are temporary, carefully managed and designed to cause as little disturbance as possible.
  

This project proposal will evolve based on the above-mentioned expert design input across the Study Area as well as input from the local community.