FAQs
Who is RES?
RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, working across 24 countries and active in wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, transmission and distribution. As an industry innovator for over 40 years, RES has delivered more than 28GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and supports 43GW of operational assets worldwide for a large client base.Drawing on our decades of experience in the renewable energy and construction industries, RES has the expertise to develop, construct and operate projects of outstanding quality which contribute to a low carbon future by providing a secure supply of sustainable, low cost, clean green energy. RES is committed to finding effective and appropriate ways of engaging with all its stakeholders, including local residents and businesses, and believes that the views of local people are an integral part of the development process. RES is also committed to developing long term relationships with the communities around its projects, proactively seeking ways in which it can support and encourage community involvement in social and environmental projects near its developments.
RES is the power behind a clean energy future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy. We bring together global experience, passion, and the innovation of 4,500 people to transform the way energy is generated, stored and supplied. Visit www.res-group.com for more information.
RES has been playing a pivotal role in providing Northern Ireland with renewable energy since the early 1990s. With over 50 employees based in Larne, the team is committed to playing an active part in Northern Ireland’s energy future, ensuring its projects contribute to decarbonising the energy system at least cost to the consumer.
RES has developed 29 onshore wind farms in Northern Ireland totalling in excess of 500MW and operates over 134MW of wind capacity across the country.
Where will the wind farm be?
The proposed wind farm is located approximately 4km north east of Plumbridge and 11.5km south west of Claudy, in the townlands of Stroanbrack, Doorat and Glengarrow, within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, located within County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. You can see a site location plan below (click on image to enlarge).
How many wind turbines will there be?
Our proposal comprises up to 11 three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbines, each up to 180 m maximum tip height; associated external electricity transformers; underground cabling; access tracks; turning heads; crane hardstandings; control building and substation compound, battery energy storage containers, off-site areas of widening to the public road and all ancillary works.
During construction and commissioning there would be a number of temporary works including a construction compound with car parking; temporary parts of crane hardstandings and welfare facilities.
You can view the infrastructure layout here.
Why are the turbines so tall?
Turbine technology has advanced considerably in recent years, meaning that turbines are now taller and more efficient. We appreciate that modern wind farms are large structures, they are designed to maximise energy production and by having larger turbines it allows us to reduce the number of turbines whilst still maximising the energy production and reducing the levelised cost of energy. Onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of energy1 and we are utilising one of Ireland’s greatest natural resources.
Why here?
The site was chosen because it has very good wind resource, few ecological constraints, feasible access and a viable grid connection.
The wind farm is close to residential properties
The wind farm would be located over 1km from the closest homes, which is twice the minimum recommended distance.
What stage is the project at?
A planning application has now been submitted to the Strategic Planning Directorate Department for Infrastructure (DfI). For more information, please click here.
What would the wind farm look like and what about the impact on the Sperrins AONB?
RES undertake extensive research before selecting sites and many upland areas are located in areas of outstanding natural beauty and the onus is on RES as the developer to demonstrate that this project will not have a significant impact on the integrity of the Sperrins AONB.
Detailed analysis and assessment was undertaken during the initial site selection and throughout the design process as part of the EIA, to ensure that the wind farm was sensitively sited.
A total of 19 Viewpoints have been selected as a result of the provisional viewpoint selection. They are intended to be representative of typically occurring views within the local area, views experienced by sensitive visual receptors, and also views from specific locations that merit inclusion in the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) by virtue of their contribution to the landscape and visual qualities of the Study Area.
You can view the LVIA and viewpoints here.
Bunnyconnellan Wind Farm, Co. Mayo
How will you ensure the wind farm doesn’t impact the wildlife in the area?
Protecting and minimising any potential direct or indirect impacts on local wildlife and their habitats is of utmost importance and RES take this responsibility seriously.
RES has undertaken a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to determine the likelihood of any potential impacts on the environment, ecology and ornithology. The results of the EIA are described in the Environmental Statement (ES).
An Outline Habitat Management Plan (OHMP) has also been proposed and included in Vol 4 of the ES.
What about the impact on blanket bog and peat?
The impact on peatland is assessed in detail through the Ecological Impact Assessment and any loss of peatland as a result of the wind farm infrastructure will be compensated for through habitat management measures.
The impacts of peat slide risk has also been addressed specifically in the Environmental Impact Assessment and RES have over 30 years developing and constructing wind farms in Ireland on peatland sites.
A Peat Slide Risk assessment, as well as a Peat Management Plan has been included in Volume 2, appendix 10.3 & 10.4 respectively of the ES.
What about the health impacts of wind farms?
The development of wind farms around the world has been accompanied by some concerns of their impact to human health. One of the most common concerns relates to low-frequency noise commonly known as infrasound and its role as a hidden contributing agent behind ‘wind turbine syndrome’.
Low frequency noise is generally not audible or perceptible to humans as it occurs at similar levels to pre-existing background levels. Adverse effects on humans are only evident at infrasound levels far exceeding that generated by operating wind turbines. Multiple organisations and studies from around the world, including the World Health Organisation, indicate that there is no evidence that any infrasound/low frequency noise from wind turbines directly causes health impacts or can otherwise impact on the amenity of those living or working near wind turbines.
The common rate or frequency at which photosensitive epilepsy might be triggered is between 3 and 30 Hz (flashes per second). Large commercial turbines, such as the proposed turbines at Mullaghclogher, rotate at low speeds resulting in less than 3 flashes per second and are therefore unlikely to cause epileptic seizures. (Harding et al., 20082, Smedley et al., 20103 ). Therefore, there are not considered to be any health effects associated with the project and the assessment will address the effects of shadow flicker related only to local amenity.
Whilst various studies continue to refute the connection between noise from wind turbines and negative health effects. we take the issue seriously.
Do wind farms affect water quality?
Any potential impact on hydrology and fisheries is assessed in detail through separate Hydrological and Fisheries Impact Assessments. It has been determined that potential impacts are primarily related to the potential sediment run-off and release of other pollutants to the receiving watercourses with related effects on fish stocks and the wider stream ecosystem.
A series of specific mitigation measures have been designed to avoid adverse effects on fisheries and aquatic ecology with regard to both construction and operational phases of the Proposed Development.
A Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology assessment has been included in Volume 1, Chapter 9 of the ES.
Do wind farms affect property values?
Queries are often raised in relation to the potential of wind farms to impact upon the value of house prices as there can be a perception that there must be a negative effect on house prices. Property value is subjective and can be affected by a range of factors. There is no firm evidence on whether UK onshore wind farms do or do not affect house prices, this is further evidenced from various studies on the same topic having starkly different results.
We are aware of residents close to other renewable energy projects, who enjoy having renewable energy projects close by and believe that they add value to their community.
Why onshore wind?
We are facing a climate emergency, and at the same time seeking to enhance the security of our energy supply. Onshore wind can address both of these.
Wind energy is a free and inexhaustible resource which has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. It increases energy security by reducing our reliance on imports and builds our resilience to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets. It can be quick to build and the carbon payback time is usually within 1-3 years.
The Mullaghclogher Wind Farm is projected to produce enough clean, low-cost electricity for the equivalent of over 80,0004 houses and offset 118,000 tonnes of carbon5, compared to generation from fossil fuels, every year.
Onshore wind, alongside other renewable technologies, are also the cheapest form of new electricity generation1.
Northern Ireland consumers avoided paying £500 million to import gas in 2022 because wind farms provided nearly 42% of our electricity6.
Craiggore Wind Farm, Co. Derry/Londonderry
Why don’t you put them out at sea or develop other renewable technologies?
A future balanced energy mix is vital to improve the reliability and resiliency of the energy grid and helps to ensure affordability for customers. Experience and research show that it's important to avoid overdependence on any single fuel type. The future energy mix will be a diverse menu of low-carbon and renewable energy technologies, all pulling together to meet the net zero targets.
Other renewable technologies will have their own merits in relation to cost, efficiency, environmental or social benefits.
If the wind doesn’t blow, there will be no power
Wind turbines tend to generate electricity for around 80-85% of the time, but wind speeds vary and this has an impact on how much power is produced. As the grid system becomes increasingly powered by onshore wind and other renewables, it has become much more diverse and distributed.
Our grid is becoming smarter to match supply and demand. NI’s reliance on the use of natural gas to balance it will reduce as we see larger amounts of energy storage in the system. Systems like batteries and electric vehicles, as well as green hydrogen, are able to store surplus energy from renewables and release it when required.
The Mullaghclogher proposal includes battery energy storage and associated infrastructure on the site. Battery energy storage technology supports the variable generation of renewable energy technologies by playing an important balancing and grid stability role.
Battery energy storage helps support the network operator by storing energy at times when generation exceeds demand and releasing electricity back to the grid network when demand exceeds generation.
Increasing battery energy storage installed capacity will be vital to support Northern Ireland’s net-zero emissions target and help to deliver a reliable, resilient, decarbonised electricity system for the future.
What happens next?
A consultation period will be undertaken by DfI to enable the public, as well as statutory consultees, to submit their comments on the proposal. Comments will be assessed against the proposal and a determination made in due course.
1 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/911817/electricity-generation-cost-report-2020.pdf
2 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01563.x
3 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02402.x
4 The homes figure has been calculated by taking the predicted annual electricity generation of the site (based on RES assessments Mullaghclogher has a predicted capacity factor of 48.2%) and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that the annual UK average domestic household consumption is 3,509 kWh (Dec 2022).
5 RES uses DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 424 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2023) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”). Carbon reduction is calculated by multiplying the total amount of electricity generated by the windfarm per year by the number of tonnes of carbon which fossil fuels would have produced to generate the same amount of electricity.
6 https://renewableni.com/wind-saves-ni-500m-in-2022