Mayo's biggest wind farm restricted due to weak power grid
Connaught Telegraph|Caoimhin Rowland|Oct 9, 2025
One of Ireland’s largest wind farms is generating only a fraction of its capacity because of grid bottlenecks, a meeting of Mayo county council’s strategic planning SPC has been told. The Oweninny development in north Mayo, contracted for 314 megawatts (MW), can export just 100 MW of electricity due to insufficient grid infrastructure.
One of Ireland’s largest wind farms is generating only a fraction of its capacity because of grid bottlenecks, a meeting of Mayo county council’s strategic planning SPC has been told. The Oweninny development in north Mayo, contracted for 314 megawatts (MW), can export just 100 MW of electricity due to insufficient grid infrastructure.
One of Ireland’s largest wind farms is generating only a fraction of its capacity because of grid bottlenecks, a meeting of Mayo county council’s strategic planning SPC has been told.
The Oweninny development in north Mayo, contracted for 314 megawatts (MW), can export just 100 MW of electricity due to insufficient grid infrastructure.
Senior planner John McMyler said the issue highlights the need for urgent investment.
“The key issue is grid capacity and grid connectivity,” he explained.
“At Bellacorrick, only a third of the capacity is coming out at the moment. That is a matter for Eirgrid and national government, it’s outside our control.”
Despite these constraints, Mayo has become a renewable powerhouse. The county now ranks third …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]One of Ireland’s largest wind farms is generating only a fraction of its capacity because of grid bottlenecks, a meeting of Mayo county council’s strategic planning SPC has been told.
The Oweninny development in north Mayo, contracted for 314 megawatts (MW), can export just 100 MW of electricity due to insufficient grid infrastructure.
Senior planner John McMyler said the issue highlights the need for urgent investment.
“The key issue is grid capacity and grid connectivity,” he explained.
“At Bellacorrick, only a third of the capacity is coming out at the moment. That is a matter for Eirgrid and national government, it’s outside our control.”
Despite these constraints, Mayo has become a renewable powerhouse. The county now ranks third nationally for renewable supply, with 1,132 MW contracted, far above the 600 MW target in the development plan.
This includes 800 MW of wind, 220 MW of hydrogen, 57 MW of solar and 56 MW of bioenergy.
Major upcoming projects include a potential new windfarm in the west of the county and the upcoming Oweninny 3, which will be the largest renewable energy development in Ireland once completed
But officials stressed that Mayo cannot be left to carry the burden alone.
Advances in turbine design mean windmills are now double the size of earlier models, allowing them to capture stronger winds at higher altitudes. This opens up new possibilities in regions such as the midlands, which were previously considered unsuitable for wind farms.
“Most of Mayo is very suitable for wind, but the Midlands and other regions will have to step up,” McMyler said.
“It should not be left to the western seaboard to carry all the weight.”
Director of Services Catherine McConnell highlighted that Mayo has also approved its largest biomass project in Ballinrobe and hosts several solar schemes, including one at the Coca-Cola site in Ballina.
Still, wind remains “the main game”, with four main clusters centred in Bellacorrick, Bonniconlon, Claremorris and Castlebar.
A new renewable energy and storage strategy is now being prepared by consultants.