Introduction

Kilronan Wind Farm is located in the Kilronan Mountains close to Derrinavoggy (2 miles from Keadue) in Co. Roscommon on a site 320 metres above sea level, directly exposed to Irelands southwesterly winds. Kilronan is an excellent location for the wind farm as combined with its natural wind resource, it has existing access road and power lines just a few hundred metres away from the site. Construction of the wind farm began in August 1997 and was fully complete in just 4 months. Visitors come to visit the wind farm from schools, planners (Irish Potential Developers), local authority planners (Irish Planning Institute), overseas visitors and casual visitors. The site is big enough to hold ten turbines. There is one office that employs one person who looks after the turbines by computer in the office. The nearest house to the turbines is about 1km away and the nearest farm is about a half a mile away.

Environment:

Carbon Dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels acts as a dangerous greenhouse gas resulting in global warming which threatens the future of the enviroment. Amounts of sulphur and nitrogen also released by the burning process react with the moisture in the air forming acid rain, which damages buildings, trees and crops. These alter the P.H balance of waterways. Wind energy can be controlled without the release of gases.

Renewable Energy:

Oil, coal, gas and peat are finite sources. This means they will run out sometime. They are known as fossil fuels, because the remains of dead animals formed them. Wind, which is a natural resource, can be regenerated over and over. Wind energy could provide Ireland with most of its energy in the future.

Visit to a Wind Farm

We departed from the school at 10 o'clock in the morning to drive up to the mountains to visit the Kilronan wind farm. Upon arrival we met Sheila, a worker in the office. She showed is into a turbine. There, she explained, was the computer, which records the turbine's progress. Sheila also answered a majority of questions that we asked. We found out that Cork companies finance the wind farm. It isn't a very profitable organization in fact it takes 8-10 years to make any profit. There is enough energy produced a year from 1 turbine to supply 400-500 local houses and businesses. The amount of energy produced a day varies depending on the wind speed for that day, for example there can be as little as 25 kwh to 500 kwh produced a minute per turbine. The energy output for 2000 was roughly 14 million. There are 16 wind farms in Ireland. The organising of the Kilronan wind farm project first began in 1992. Construction then began in 1997. There is a cluster of 10 turbines on each side of the mountain. There are soon to be 9 more. We then took a look around the area whilst taking pictures. It was very barren. We departed for the school at 12.30pm after thanking Sheila for our tour of the wind turbine.