Turbine deliveries underway for Yellow River Wind Farm

The first deliveries of wind turbine components to SSE Renewables’ 100MW Yellow River Wind Farm, currently under construction in Rhode, County Offaly, have commenced. Farrans is the main contractor on the project.

SSE Renewables commenced construction on Yellow River Wind Farm in November 2022 and the project is expected to be completed in summer 2024. Once complete, the wind farm will generate enough low-carbon renewable energy to power 66,000 homes annually and offset 65,000 metric tonnes of carbon per annum, contributing significantly to Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy targets.

Wind turbine supplier Nordex Group has been commissioned by SSE Renewables to manufacture, deliver and install a total of 29 of its N117/3600 turbines at the Yellow River project site.

Once operational, Yellow River will operate an annual Community Benefit Fund which will provide around €595,000 per annum for local initiatives, projects, clubs and amenities.

First convoys of the turbine components began in early December and will continue until next April. The turbine parts, including towers, nacelles, hubs and blades, are being delivered under Garda escort from Galway Port to the Yellow River site via the M6 and R400. The delivery route and programme – agreed in advance by turbine provider Nordex with Offaly County Council and An Garda Síochána – sees deliveries taking place in the early hours of the morning to ensure minimum disruption to local residents.

Brian McCool, Contracts Director at Farrans Construction, said: “We are proud to play a key role in the delivery of this important project for SSE Renewables, one which will have a significant positive impact on the future of low-carbon energy generation in Ireland. In preparation for the turbine deliveries we have already completed 29 concrete pours each consisting of either 470m3 or 540m3 of concrete, we have built four bridges each with a 16m span and 26km of haul roads have been finished. We have worked with our client and Nordex to ensure that the turbine delivery route has been made suitable to support the component deliveries from Galway Port to the site. Our next steps will be to finish the remaining six crane hardstandings in January, with collector network and cabling commissioning ongoing before site reinstatement.”

Paul Rodgers, SSE Renewables’ Project Manager for Yellow River Wind Farm, said:  “This is a significant milestone for the project, and now means that we’re one step closer to delivering green electricity for the community in Offaly, the Midlands and beyond. Our Yellow River Wind Farm project is also contributing to SSE Renewables’ own ambitious Net Zero Acceleration Programme which sees us spending around €4.5m a day on developing and building the clean power assets we need to deliver a greener, homegrown energy future. From the start of construction, we have been working closely with the local community in Offaly and, on behalf of myself and the rest of the Yellow River project team, I’d like to thank the community for their patience and support over the past several months. As a responsible developer and operator, we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the neighbouring community, especially as we progress towards completion later in 2024.”

James Lappin, Project Manager at Nordex, said: “We are pleased to be working with SSE Renewables on the Yellow River Wind Farm and to be providing our N117/3600 turbine from our award-winning and proven DELTA series for this important renewable energy project. With deliveries to site now underway, we are working closely with SSE Renewables, Offaly County Council, and An Garda Síochána to secure the safe and efficient delivery and installation of our turbines, whilst ensuring any disruption for local residents is kept to an absolute minimum. We appreciate the patience and support of the local community whilst we carry out our work and look forward to seeing the Yellow River Wind Farm project coming to fruition in the coming months.”