The proposed renewable energy project is located approximately 3km southwest of Inistioge and 10km northeast of Mullinavat. The current Study Area comprises lands at Curraghmore, Garrandarragh, Ballykenna, Ballyshane, Ballyvool, Bohilla and Inistioge townlands and measures approximately 294 hectares. The majority of the proposed Study Area is agricultural and forestry land. This area is classified in the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021-2027, as being within an area that is ‘’open for consideration’’ for wind energy project development, Ministerial Direction is in force on the current County Development Plan. The Study Area is being considered for wind energy potential.

Empower Renewables’ project selection process initially starts with desk-based screening of the general area which identifies all constraints which are required to establish a feasible Study Area. This includes but is not limited to, buffers off all existing eircode's utilising the most recent eircode data, buffers off all designated environmental areas of importance, national monuments, existing and planned renewable developments, existing grid infrastructure, hydrological features and many more. Once areas of interest are established, we focus on areas with close proximity to grid, and areas designated favourably in the county development plans.

Following this initial screening process, feasibility studies are carried out by independent planning consultants, grid experts and wind analysts to further inform the Study Area suitability.

Based on the results of these initial investigations it is considered that this general area in principle has capacity for a renewable energy project pending further study.