A Breath of Fresh Air: SSE and Bord na Móna’s Wind Power Venture Aims to Energize Ireland’s Climate Goals
In a groundbreaking partnership, two of the leading names in low-carbon energy, SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna, have joined forces to turbocharge Ireland’s journey towards its ambitious 2030 climate targets. The collaboration will see an invigorating €1 billion investment in onshore wind farms, with the potential to power up half a million homes in the emerald isles. This venture is not just a leap towards sustainability but a move that promises to bring hundreds of jobs and breathable air to the communities across the midlands.
Powering the Future, One Wind Turbine at a Time
At the heart of this venture lies the plan to develop 800MW of wind energy across Ireland’s midlands, a region poised to become a bulwark against climate change. These projects collectively aim to light up over 450,000 homes while displacing roughly half a million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. It’s an audacious playbook in the race against climate change, contributing significantly to Ireland’s net-zero ambitions by 2050.
But the ambition doesn’t stop at lighting homes. This initiative is also about re-energizing communities and landscapes that have long been home to traditional industries. The green energy focus promises to create hundreds of local jobs not only during the construction phases but also through ongoing operations and maintenance of the wind farms. It’s a gust of fresh opportunity that envisages a workforce transitioning from traditional to renewable sectors, securing a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
From Plans to Reality: The Road Ahead
The project’s blueprint sketches out a future where three key wind farms—Lemanaghan in Offaly, Littleton in Tipperary, and Garryhinch on the Laois-Offaly border—will become linchpins in Ireland’s renewable energy infrastructure. Together, these sites are projected to contribute around 250MW of the 800MW target, marking significant milestones in the journey towards greener electricity.
Underpinning this ambitious project is a community-first approach. Bord na Móna CEO Tom Donnellan emphasized the deep-rooted connection between the organization and the communities it operates in, promising that the dedicated Community Benefit Fund associated with the wind farm projects would bring annual multimillion-euro investments into local pockets. It’s a testament to how renewable energy can be a conduit for not only preserving our planet but also empowering local communities.
Empowering Ireland’s Green Dreams
The partnership between SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna stands as a beacon of collaboration in the quest for a cleaner, more sustainable Ireland. With an investment that pitches both vision and value, this venture is aligned closely with the country’s climate action targets—posing a dual promise of energy security and net-zero carbon emissions.
Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications, hailed the midlands’ pivotal role in powering Ireland forward, noting that green, renewable energy is the bedrock upon which the country’s energy security and emissions reduction goals lay. He heralded the joint venture as a model for future partnerships, galvanizing efforts to usher in an era of energy independence, free from the shackles of fossil fuels.
As Ireland winds its way to 2030 and beyond, initiatives like the SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna joint venture shine as exemplars of proactive climate action. They remind us that the journey to sustainability is not a solo sprint but a relay that calls for unity, ambition, and persistent effort across all sectors of society. In the whirlwind of today’s energy transition, it’s ventures like these that light the path to a brighter, greener tomorrow.
Divya 
Mehek