Kellystown Wind Farm in Louth gets go ahead

Louth County Council has given the go ahead for a wind farm project in the county, that will see the construction of five wind turbines with with a tip height range up to 180m, rotor diameter range up to 163m, and a hub height range of up to 105m.

EDF Renewables Ireland applied to Louth County Council in December 2024 for planning permission for the development, named Kellystown Wind Farm, at Ballymakenny, Brownstown, Carntown, Carstown, Cartanstown, Castletown, Drumshallon, Gallstown, Groom, Kearneystown, Keeverstown, Killineer, Mell, New Town, Monasterboice, Piperstown, Stonehouse, Swinestown, Tullyallen, Tullyard, and Tullyeskar, Co. Louth.

A 10-year planning permission and 35-year operational life from the date of commissioning of the entire wind farm was sought. The applicant sought the go ahead for the construction of five wind turbines, with a total tip height range of 179.5m – 180m, a rotor diameter range of 149m – 163m, and a hub height range of 98m to 105m; as well as the construction of turbine foundations, crane hardstand areas and assembly areas; and all associated wind farm underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the turbines and meteorological mast to the proposed onsite electrical substation including cabling in the public road corridor in the townlands of Gallstown and Kearneystown.

EDF Renewables Ireland also proposed the construction of a permanent 38kV electrical substation compound including a single-storey control building with welfare facilities, all associated electrical plant and equipment, security fencing, gates, all associated underground cabling, wastewater holding tank, and all ancillary structures and works in the townland of Piperstown.

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A Battery Energy Storage System within the 38kV electrical substation compound was also proposed as well as all works associated with the connection of the proposed wind farm to the national electricity grid which includes five water crossings - three bridges and two culverts.

Permission was sought for the provision of joint bays and associated communication chambers along the underground electrical cabling route via underground 38kV electrical cabling predominantly within the public road corridor, from the onsite substation in the townland of Piperstown to the existing Drybridge 110 kV Substation located in the townland of Tullyallen.

Planning was also sought for the reinstatement of all road and track surfaces above cabling trench along existing roads and tracks in public lands; the provision of new site access tracks and upgrade of existing site tracks/roads to facilitate access to all onsite infrastructure, which includes three water crossings, passing bays and all associated drainage; and the provision of two new permanent site entrances for construction and operational access from the local road L6274 in the townlands of Kearneystown and Gallstown.

The application also provides for the permanent realignment of an existing entrance for construction and operational access to the 38kV electrical substation compound from the local road L2275 in the townland of Piperstown; the use of an existing site entrance for construction, operational access to the permanent met mast on a private road off local road L2275 in the townland of Drumshallon; and the construction of a new temporary track in the townland of Castletown at the R162 / L-6274-0 Junction to facilitate the delivery of the turbine components during construction. This track would be temporarily re-installed as required during the operational phase.

It also provides for items including three temporary construction compounds with associated temporary offices, staff facilities parking and security fencing in the townlands of Gallstown, Piperstown and Stonehouse; a permanent meteorological mast of c.36m in height, and associated foundation and hard-standing area in the townland of Drumshallon; the provision of two permanent spoil storage areas; and tree felling to facilitate the construction and operation of the proposed development.

Louth County Council sought further information from the applicant in February of this year. Significant further information was provided to Louth County Council on 13 August, and again on 22 October. 

The local planning authority granted planning permission for the development on 10 December, subject to 21 planning conditions.