International online commerce and retail company Amazon has announced a new wind farm project for Co. Galway, which is set to begin operating in 2022.

The wind farm, planned to be built in the area of Ardderroo, to the north-west of Galway city, is aimed at supporting Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres nationwide.

The 115MW project comes on the heels of the existing project in Esk, Co. Cork, which will come online next month, and the Meenbeg wind farm in Co. Donegal, which is due to follow in early 2022.

According to Amazon, the three projects are projected to add 229MW of renewable energy to the Irish grid each year, “reducing carbon emissions by 366,000t of CO2 each year, and producing enough renewable energy to power 185,000 Irish homes per annum”.

Amazon said that it has committed to offtake 100% of the power from these project “without relying on public funding”.

In an online blog post, it was added that Amazon would be announcing further renewable projects in the future. Amazon’s intention is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Carlow solar farm

While one renewable project seems to be moving ahead, another one has stalled.

Planning permission has been refused for a 127ha solar farm to be developed in Co. Carlow.

Terra Solar II, a Dublin-based solar developer, applied for 10-year planning permission for a solar farm to be developed in the Ballon and Rathoe area of the county.

Carlow County Council refused permission on the grounds that the overall size and scale of the development would be contrary to the energy policy of the Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021. The size would span over 127ha, with it having the maximum capacity of up to 95MW.

According to the council documents, the proposed development would be contrary to “proper planning and sustainable development in the area”.