SECOND Clare wind farm refused over Shannon airport radar concerns

An Coimisiún Pleanála refused planning permission for an eleven turbine wind farm at the 12 O’Clock Hills in south east Clare.
The decision was issued on September 2nd against Danish energy company Ørsted.
€12,229 in fees was returned to Ørsted under Section 37H(2)(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Both Shannon Airport and AirNav Ireland lodged objections citing radar and navigation concerns.
A similar twelve turbine proposal at Ballycar was refused in May after more than 70 objections.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused planning permission for an eleven turbine wind farm at the 12 O’Clock Hills in south east Clare. The decision has marked the second wind energy project in the county to be blocked this year on aviation safety grounds. The ruling was issued on September 2nd against Danish energy company Ørsted, which had proposed the development approximately nine kilometres north of Limerick city and less than five kilometres from Sixmilebridge.

The planning authority found it was not satisfied that measurable and credible mitigation had been put forward to address the risk the turbines posed to aviation surveillance equipment. The project carried a risk of major accident through potential degradation of radar performance. The applicant did not hold sufficient legal interest in the land needed to carry out the safety measures required by Shannon Airport, AirNav Ireland and the Irish Aviation Authority. Under Section 37H(2)(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, €12,229 in fees was returned to Ørsted as a result of the refusal.

Both Shannon Airport and AirNav Ireland had lodged objections to the scheme. The case mirrors an earlier decision in May when An Coimisiún Pleanála refused permission for Ballycar Green Energy’s twelve turbine proposal at Ballycar near Limerick city. That development drew more than 70 objections and was rejected after AirNav Ireland warned it would degrade the performance of the Woodcock Hill radar station, a facility relied on for air traffic control at both Shannon and Dublin. Shannon Airport has previously said it was not properly consulted on wind farm plans for east Clare.

An Coimisiún Pleanála ruled it is not satisfied that measurable, evidence based, demonstratable and credible mitigation have been submitted by the applicant that can remove all levels of aviation related risk.