Welcome SSE Renewables to Letterkenny Chamber as a new member.
Letterkenny Chamber CEO, Toni Forrester and then President, Fionnuala Rabbitt, recently had an insightful member engagement meeting with new members, SSE Renewables; Conor Joy – External Relations Manager On Shore, as well as Conor’s colleagues on the ground here in the Northwest, locally based – Michelle Donnelly, Lead Land Manager and Seamus Herron, Community Relations Manager.
The SSE team covered their current presence in Donegal & the North-West, their active community investment, mentioned new technologies like green hydrogen, solar and battery storage and their priorities and plans within the region for the year ahead.
SSE shared their clear purpose, to lead the net zero transition through the world-class development, financing, construction, and operation of renewables. SSE are pioneers in onshore wind, offshore wind, and hydro power, and now we’re progressing green hydrogen opportunities to help deliver a net zero future. In Ireland, 1,200 people working across SSE, with approx. 200 people working in Renewables. There are currently 20 permanent SSE jobs in Donegal.
We spoke specifically about Onshore Wind in Donegal, delivering clean energy to the Northwest – Onshore wind pioneers with a presence of nearly quarter of a century in Donegal. With three operating wind farms, Cullilagh Wind Farm (18 turbines) Meentycat Wind Farm (45 turbines – which we visited) and Lenalea Wind Farm (7 turbines) – producing 130MW of clean energy – powering 87,000 homes. We also discussed Drumnahough Wind Farm which is in development.
We learned more about the SSE Renewables Community Benefit Funds, their contribution to local communities since establishment in 2007, is €1,512,343. Circa €69k was provided in 2023 to community groups. These funds were allocated to over 130 community groups who have in turn supported 854 projects within 20km of SSE Renewables wind farms. Lenalea CBF being formulated at the moment with further opportunities for neighbouring community groups.
Significant annual Commercial Rates contributions, helping improve services and infrastructure in Donegal, including: circa €775k in 2023 and C €6.8m from 2015-2023 inclusive.
Letterkenny Chamber CEO, Toni Forrester, visited the Meentycat Wind Farm located in the Cark mountains north of Ballybofey in County Donegal, which was Ireland’s largest windfarm when it opened in 2005. Letterkenny Chamber looks forward to continued engagement with SSE Renewables and their local team, and will communicate all opportunities for community collaborations, and the relevant plans, projects and collaborations generated by SSE Renewables as they work collectively on their net zero transition.
