Following Gate 3, Coillte is now the second largest co-developer / developer of on-shore wind generation capacity with 11 projects in 9 counties within the island of Ireland totalling c 400MW. In addition, Coillte also has a development pipeline of projects beyond Gate 3 of 880MW.

Current activity with Coillte’s Gate 2/3 portfolio includes a 85MW  co-development project with Viridian in County Donegal that is expected to reach financial close by end-2011, with a scheduled construction start in early 2012. The construction works packages and turbine procurement process is currently under way.

Projects with planning consent include a 105MW co-development with SSE Airtricity and Finnavera at Cloosh Valley Galway. On October 5th, 2011 the grid connection agreement was signed with Eirgrid for the project, providing a clear route to financial close, construction and operation of Ireland’s largest onshore wind project. Once operational, Cloosh Valley will generate enough energy to provide electricity to more than 68,000 homes.

Planning consent was also granted in 2010 for a 36MW co-development project with ESB Wind Development in Co Wicklow, and this project is progressing through the preconstruction stage. 2 other co-development projects with ESBWD totalling 80MW are currently also progressing through the planning consent stage.

A positive planning decision has recently been issued by Roscommon County Council for Coillte’s 58MW Sliabh Bawn project. A 55MW Coillte project in Co Laois along with a 150MW Coillte project in Co Mayo are currently progressing through the feasibility study and pre-development stages.

Grid Connection Offers have issued on all Coillte’s Gate 2/3 projects and acceptance of offers is ongoing in line with our windfarm Capital Programme requirements.  Agreements on 2 projects have been executed with Eirgrid, as of Q3 2011.

Coillte was the main sponsor of the 2011 IWEA Autumn Conference where CEO David Gunning gave the keynote address.

For Further Information, please contact

Jude Byrne
Director, Wind Energy
Coillte
Dublin Road
Newtownmountkennedy
Co Wicklow

Tel: 01 2011111