New research has shown that there is a decrease in Irish bird populations in the areas immediately adjacent to wind turbines. As wind farms become more widespread in upland habitats, this may affect how birds use these areas.

Impact on Birds Ireland

The wind energy sector has been told it must engage in real consultation with communities and avoid "disinformation" if wind turbines are to become acceptable to local people. ..."In many cases I could see the proposed locations were in areas of high amenity or areas of conservation, places they would never get permission for turbines.

General Ireland

The Irish Raptor Study Group has been granted permission to bring judicial review proceedings challenging a decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for a 19-turbine wind farm located at Meenbog in South Eastern Donegal. ...They claimed that while the developer in its application did not identify the presence of breeding Hen Harrier on the wind farm site IRSG volunteers had identified two pairs of breeding Hen Harrier in the same area.

Impact on Birds Ireland

A record £3.1million was paid to wind farms in the space of one day for switching off turbines when it became too windy. The compensatory sum was handed to operators on Saturday because electricity supply outstripped demand.

Taxes & Subsidies Ireland

A windfarm company has gone to court in a row over its efforts to get connected to the national grid.

Legal Ireland

In its Supreme Court appeal, the board argued the High Court judgment set a “very high threshold” concerning the reasoning requirements for a planning decision maker when a decision involves either an EIA or an AA. If the High Court findings were upheld, that would have serious consequences for how the board and other planning authorities approach making decisions, it argued.

Legal Ireland

The Supreme Court has overturned permission for a wind farm in Co Clare due to An Bord Pleanála’s failure to make “complete, definitive and precise” findings required by European law for a valid Appropriate Assessment of the project.

General Ireland

Ireland's state electricity board is behind a plan to build a 91mw wind farm in the Highlands. It is the latest project by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), which has been quietly amassing wind power plants in Scotland.

Impact on Landscape Ireland UK

Two large Irish wind farm portfolios have been put on the market by their owners.

General Ireland

Legal Ireland

Ireland faces fines of €600m a year from the EU for failing to meet renewable energy targets and cutting carbon emissions by 2020.

Energy Policy Ireland

The Court of Justice of the EU has upheld arguments by opponents of a wind farm concerning the extent of Coillte’s environmental responsibilities in relation to grid connection works for a wind farm in Co Laois.

General Ireland

Mr Justice Michael Twomey refused to quash the decision and remit it back to the board. He said that despite the alleged errors ...there was a reasonable basis upon which the board could refuse permission.

Legal Ireland

The number of complaints received for wind farm noise is significantly higher in Omagh and Fermanagh District than any other council area. According to latest statistics from DAERA, there was a total of 13 noise complaints.

Impact on People Noise Ireland

Its [Derrybrien wind farm in Galway] construction required the removal of large areas of forest and the extraction of peat up to 5.5 metres deep from the top of Cashlaundrumlahan Mountain, causing a devastating landslide in October 2003. The landslide destroyed the ecology of a 20km section of a nearby river system, killing around 50,000 fish.

Erosion Pollution Ireland

This article examines the issues surrounding infrasound and low frequency sound (ILFN) by reporting on the work of Dr Mariana Alves-Pereira. Accredited acousticians cannot ascertain compliance levels for ILFN because there are none – the vast majority of regulations worldwide do not cover this part of the acoustic spectrum. The full article including charts and images can be accessed by clicking the links on this page.

Impact on People Noise Ireland

An appeal to overturn a decision by Tipperary Co. Council blocking development of a windfarm in Hollyford, west Co. Tipperary, has been rejected by An Bord Pleanála.

General Ireland

This is the second incident of its kind, raising concerns over the safety of the turbines developed in such close proximity to homes.

Safety Structural Failure Ireland

Campaigners believe the cairn, a large stone mound covered by earth which would have been used as an ancient burial chamber, could be historically significant and that work could damage the 6,000 year-old site. Planning permission was granted in 2013 by the former Department of the Environment.

Impact on Landscape Ireland

The King’s Highway issue has been raised in a legal case that is a shining example of the problems between developers and opponents of wind farms, writes Michael Clifford. Who owns the King’s Highway? The question might appear redundant in this Republic, but it is the latest to be asked in the perennial struggle around wind farms in rural Ireland.

Legal Ireland