OREANDA-NEWS. March 31, 2015. SSE has a strong history of delivering significant investment and job creation through the development and construction of large scale renewables projects.  The most recent evidence of this in Ireland is our 73MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park in Co. Londonderry, which delivered a total capital investment of ?125million, of which ?36 million was spent with local companies within a 50 mile radius of the Wind Park.

The spotlight for our next big project is now firmly fixed on the West of Ireland, and the delivery of the 169MW Galway Wind Park. Over the next 24 months, SSE will invest in excess of €270m delivering Ireland’s largest onshore wind farm. During that time, it is estimated that over 300 people will be employed on the site at the peak of construction activity and SSE will work with a wide range of local companies, including small local family-owned firms, sole-traders, specialist engineering and environmental enterprises.

Adding to this local investment, Galway Wind Park will also deliver a significant long-term financial legacy for the region, investing a further €44m over the next 25 years through SSE’s Community Funding programme in addition to commercial rates and landowner lease payments. It’s through projects such as Slieve Kirk and Galway Wind Park that we’re able to demonstrable evidence of the local and regional economic and environmental benefits of harnessing energy from wind.

Construction works at Galway Wind Park are now underway, and with 2020 fast approaching, Galway Wind Park will play a significant role in helping the Irish Government meet its target of 40% of electricity generation from renewable sources. When completed, Galway Wind Park is expected to produce enough green energy to power around 84,000 homes, which is equivalent to almost 90% of the homes in County Galway.

SSE is proud to be Ireland’s largest provider of wind power and to continue our record of investment in Ireland.