FAQ

We have a long history at this site with our first windfarm commencing operation in 1997 (then owned by South Western Services). Owenreagh I Wind Farm has been operating for over25 years. Since then, we have also built Owenreagh II which has been operating since 2008 and planning was granted in 2018 for Craignagapple Wind Farm, adjacent to Owenreagh I and II, with an additional six turbines.

There is excellent, proven wind resource at the site. There is already a meteorological mast which has been measuring the wind speed at the site for a number of years. This was supplemented by additional measurements in 2022 and 2023 using LIDAR (light detection and ranging) wind measurement equipment.

We have been conducting detailed ecology and ornithology surveys on the site since 2018 and we have been surveying the ecology of this site for a number of years. We are very familiar with the importance of local habitats in this area. Survey information gathered will be used to inform best practice measures to protect existing habitats and species of concern.

The repowering of the site (removal of existing Owenreagh I & II turbines and installation of new turbines) allows an existing resource to continue operating and contributing towards renewable energy targets albeit with more modern and more efficient turbines. The benefit of this is an increased overall generating capacity and output, contributing to the local economy and Northern Ireland’s climate targets.

The repowering of the site (removal of existing Owenreagh I & II turbines and installation of new turbines) allows an existing resource to continue operating and contributing towards renewable energy targets albeit with more modern and more efficient turbines. The benefit of this is an increased overall generating capacity and output, contributing to the local economy and Northern Ireland’s climate targets.

The windfarm has a generating capacity of greater than 30 MW and therefore is considered to be regionally significant. Consequently, the Department for Infrastructure will be responsible for determining the planning application, in consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees such as Derry City and Strabane District Council, NIEA etc.

The planning application was submitted in September 2023.

There are stringent guidelines on wind turbines and noise emissions to ensure the protection of residential amenity. This wind farm will be designed to ensure noise levels are within the allowed limits and that noise impacts are reduced as far as reasonably practical, in agreement with the Department for Infrastructure.

Wind energy is one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources, unlike fossil fuels, which are carcinogenic and severely affect human health.

A study, Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, was conducted in 2009 by a panel of medical professionals from the US, Canada, Denmark, and UK. The study concluded, “There is no evidence that the audible or sub-audible sounds [including infrasound] emitted by wind turbines have any direct adverse physiological effects.”

All wind farm operators in the UK are required to test TV and radio signals before turbine construction, again within six weeks of completion, and annually thereafter, to check for any interference or deterioration of signal.  Moreover, the Department of Energy & Climate Change has noted that, “When there are predictions of TV interference, developers often enter into legally binding agreements to rectify any problems.  In the majority of cases, they have been able to remove the interference.”

The electromagnetic field of a wind turbine is extremely weak and confined to a very short distance from the exterior turbine housing. The transformer is enclosed by the steel base of the tower or a containment unit adjacent to the tower and is only accessible to electricity company employees.  Therefore, there are no harmful electromagnetic emissions or other types of radiation from wind turbines.

Shadow Flicker is the effect of light levels in a sunlit room noticeably varying as a result of the shadow of a turbine blade passing a window, causing a nuisance. It only occurs at certain times of the year and under certain conditions.

 

A shadow flicker assessment has been undertaken as part of the planning application. This assessed properties closest to the development, in line with national and local guidance. Mitigation will be put in place, where required, to make sure shadow flicker levels remain below the recommended threshold at all neighbouring properties.

A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment was undertaken and is presented in the Environmental Statement (ES) that was submitted with the planning application.

 

As part of the Public Consultation Events, images were presented showing what the wind farm will look like from a number of representative viewpoints in the area, showing the impact on local towns and villages as well as other points of interest.

As the turbines are above 150m in height, there will be a requirement for the wind turbines to be fitted with visible aviation safety lighting. These will be red lights fitted to the hubs of the turbines and will be lit during the hours of darkness. They will typically be dimmer during periods of good weather when the visibility is good and be brighter during periods of bad weather when visibility is bad. An assessment of the night-time effects of these aviation lights on visual amenity is included as part of the planning application.

There will be an increase in traffic during the construction period. Once constructed operational traffic to the Development is expected to be minimal, numbering approximately two vehicle trips per day average. Therefore, the effect of operational traffic will be negligible.

The details of the transport and construction process are included in the planning application. We appreciate the need to work closely with local communities to ensure that any impacts are minimised and are arranged to work within local circumstances.

Yes, it has been confirmed that peat is present on site. We have undertaken habitat surveys to identify peat locations and detailed peat probing to measure the depth of peat across the site and in particular areas where infrastructure is planned. The depths found have ranged from 0m to 4.3m with almost 75% of the areas probed being less than 1.5m deep and 90% of the areas being less than 2m deep. Peat has been one of the main constraints in designing the layout of the scheme.

 

The layout avoids areas of active peat and the deepest areas of peat. A peat slide risk assessment has been carried out for the site and was discussed with GSNI prior to submitting the planning application. Mitigations measures will be put in place across the site to ensure the risk of a peat slide event due to construction of the wind farm is minimised.

Owenreagh Wind Farm (Owenreagh I and II) has made an important contribution to Northern Ireland’s Renewable Energy targets and low carbon objectives to date, and we are seeking to secure and build on this contribution. The recently adopted Northern Ireland Energy Strategy (Department for Economy) contains an ambitious 70% renewable electricity target by 2030, with flexibility to increase this target if it is achieved. The Development will contribute over 60 MW to this 2030 target. Reusing the site with larger modern turbines of greater capacity maximises the benefits without any need to develop a new greenfield site. We are replacing older technology with newer, more modern technology, which is more reliable and capable of producing more energy.

Like all businesses in the council area, the Wind Farm will be subject to local business rates. At this stage the exact rates are unknown. However, it has been estimated that annual rates in the region of £470k will be payable by Ørsted to the Council once this Wind Farm is operational.

Ørsted will be putting in place a Community Benefit Fund at a level of £5,000 per MW. If the final project design gets consented this will equate to a fund of between £300k-£350k per annum (depending on the turbine power available at construction). Our fund will be shared between community organisations surrounding the wind farm development over the life of the project, providing financial support to worthwhile initiatives that benefit the local community, enhance the local economy, and build social infrastructure. We emphasise support to organisations that engage in:

Community Services;

• Educational Programmes;
• Medical and Health Assistance; and
• Energy Efficiency and Sustainability.
• Funding commences in the first year of operation of the wind farm.  

It is essential for Ørsted that Community Benefit Funds are distributed in an open and transparent manner. We believe that the process should be designed and decided on by the community. We usually engage an independent organisation with experience in managing community funds to assist us with the process from consulting the local community on the design and management of the fund, inviting applications to the fund, recruiting a panel to review applications, to distributing funds to successful projects. If you would be interested in being involved in this process, please let us know and we will contact you once it begins.

When a wind farm reaches the end of its lifespan it is decommissioned. This is a responsibility of the wind farm developer and is typically a condition of planning consent for a project. A decommissioning plan must also be set out, and the developer is not authorised to start construction of the wind farm until this is in place.

When a wind farm is decommissioned the turbines are removed and every effort will be made to return the site to as close to its natural state as possible.

In June 2021, Ørsted committed to the reuse, recycling or recovery of all wind turbine blades in its global portfolio of onshore and offshore wind farms upon decommissioning as part of work towards achieving a carbon-neutral footprint by 2040 and avoiding land fill. The remaining components such as tower sections are readily recyclable.