Airtricity, the renewable energy company, has officially opened its Bindoo wind farm in Co. Cavan.
The new facility is the second-largest Airtricity wind farm on the island of Ireland and will save the release of over 120,000 tonnes of CO2 - equivalent to taking 30,000 cars off the road. The wind farm will produce enough green electricity to supply approximately 30,000 homes.
Construction on the new 48MW Bindoo wind farm began in March 2006 and consists of 32 GE wind turbines, generating 1.5MW each. Construction of the facility also included the building of over 10km of new access track, installation of over 75km of cable, the Ratrussan 110kV substation and substantial public road widening in the vicinity of the site.
Commenting at the opening, Airtricity CEO, Eddie O'Connor said - "This is the third project to be completed since we recommenced development of wind farms in Ireland in late 2005. In that time, we have built almost 100MW in new facilities in Limerick, Wexford and here in Cavan - thus further reducing Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels which contribute to greenhouse gases."
O'Connor added - "However, we still have a long way to go to reach our own ambitious targets. We want to play our part in helping Ireland reach its 33% renewable targets by 2020. We believe that working with the Government, Eirgrid and Enterprise Ireland, we can make Ireland into a leading renewable energy country.
"I am delighted that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, TD, was able to join us and open this wind farm here today. I know his support for renewables and wind power will help Ireland not only achieve but exceed its target for renewables."
"I would like to congratulate Airtricity on its success to-date. Bindoo wind farm is a practical demonstration of the types of projects that can contribute to rebalancing our high dependence on imported energy resources, in an environmentally sustainable way.
"Harnessing indigenous energy resources is central to our energy policy and I would like to wish all project developers and their working partners every success in maximising the sustainable conversion of all our indigenous renewable energy resources to 2010 and beyond" - commented Minister Ryan at the opening ceremony.
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