Benefits

Environmental

Wind energy is the only feasible way to generate significant quantities of green energy. Other alternatives are many years behind in terms of technology development, or economic viability, or they can not be scaled up sufficiently. Without wind energy Ireland would be left with a straight choice between ever-increasing use of (mainly imported) fossil fuels, or nuclear power to meet the vast majority of our future electricity requirements. Either of these options is not acceptable, in our opinion; and while wind energy can not provide the whole energy solution, it can make a very significant contribution.

Every year Curraheen Windfarm will provide enough electricity up to about 13,000 homes, and save these pollutants from entering the Irish environment.

The operation of Curraheen Windfarm will result in an annual saving of the burning of 129,000 barrels of oil.

Windforce 12 describes how 12 percent of the world's electricity can be supplied by wind and 11 billion tonnes of CO2 can be saved by 2020. Click here for details.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), was set up by the government in 2002 as Ireland's national energy agency. Their mission is to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy. Click here for details on wind energy.

Local Community

The Local Community will benefit indirectly from the avoidance of increased emmissions from burning
fossil fuels. The Promoters have also offered to discuss ways in which the local community can derive more direct benefit from the windfarm. Feedback on this is welcome.

Local Landowners

In the context of growing pressure on farmers to make a living from the land, Curraheen Windfarm will provide a supplementary source of income for the landowners involved in the project, so helping to secure rural livelihoods and way of life.