Energia Group, one of Ireland’s leading developers and operators of renewable energy, has reached a major construction milestone on its Ballylongford Wind Farm in County Kerry with the completion of the first turbine foundation.   

Each of the six turbine bases are completed with one single continuous pour of low carbon concrete from morning until mid-afternoon, which requires a fleet of ready-mix lorries to deliver it, arriving on site in the early hours of the morning. 

Once completed, the 25 MW wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to meet the annual needs of around 14,500 homes and save nearly 45,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year – equivalent to taking more than 28,000 average cars off the road. 

Geard O’Leary, Project Manager for the Ballylongford Wind Farm, said: “We are delighted to get to this point in the project.  This is a milestone that the construction team and our contractors should be proud of.” 

“We’re a step closer to realising Energia Group’s own renewable energy goals and helping Ireland to reach its 80% renewable electricity target by 2030, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing security of energy supply. “ 

Once the low-carbon concrete has cured, the base is backfilled with materials excavated from the site, leaving only the centre ring showing, ready for the turbine tower to be bolted on.  

The next main phase of construction will be the delivery of the turbines themselves, with components scheduled to arrive on site for installation next summer.  

Energia will be posting regular construction updates on the wind farm project website. The construction team is also operating a free text messaging service.

Anyone interested in registering for this service should email their name, address and mobile number to clo@energia.ie and include BALLYLONGFORD in the subject line. Every text includes an option to unsubscribe.