Locals in the County Clare village of Broadford are fighting against the planned introduction of up to 66 proposed wind turbines in the local area, saying that their concerns represent those of many households in East Clare.
Proposals for three separate developments stretching across the nearby 12 o’clock hills are currently being reviewed by An Bord Pleanála. East Clare Environmental Protection group (CLG) have detailed that they have serious concerns about plans for the proposed Knockshanov (FuturEnergy Ireland) and Oatfield (Orsted) Windfarms. FuturEnergy Ireland and Orsted intend to construct a total of 20 wind turbines between Broadford and Sixmilebridge, with the turbines to be 185 metres in height. According to the active committee, there are currently no turbines built on land in either Ireland or in the UK of this height.
Both AirNav and Shannon Airport have opposed the wind farms over safety objections, having expressed serious concerns about how the wind turbines could compromise the safe operation of their radar infrastructure. 90% of transatlantic air travel operates through Irish controlled airspace with AirNav, handling roughly one million flights annually.FuturEnergy Ireland has said that the 50MW (Mega-Watt) windfarm would provide enough clean energy to power 48,656 homes annually and save 1.6m tonnes of carbon emissions, estimating a community benefit fund in the region of €6.5m.
Speaking to Gript, a spokesperson for the committee of local residents said that nearby homes in the area will be affected by various issues, including noise, shadow flicker, and infra-sound. Other concerns include drinking water and private wells in the area, as well as land sterilization, construction traffic, and the environmental impact, including the impact of protected species, other birds and bats.
‘IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT VISUALS’
“Our objective is to look after the environment around East Clare,” spokesman Nick told Gript. “We are facing an influx of numerous wind turbines, with plans for 66 wind turbines to be erected within a 20 mile radius.
“When I heard that they were going to be 185 metres tall, I realised just how monstrous these things will be. I don’t think people realise just how pretty East Clare is. People are surprised when they come here just how beautiful it is. But it’s not just about visuals – the more that you dig into this issue, the more you realise that there are awful things which happen to communities as a result of these wind farms.”
The group has expressed concern that wind farm developers are currently able to rely on guidelines from 2006. Whilst those guidelines were supposed to be updated by the Government in 2019, the new drafted guidelines have yet to be adopted. The new requirements are aimed at reducing noise nuisance from wind energy developments for local residents and communities, with the draft guidelines providing for penalties for tonal noise, amplitude modulation and a threshold for low frequency noise above specified limits.
Promising that a Government review is underway, Tánaiste Simon Harris said in February 2025: “The factual position is that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is progressing a focused review of the wind energy development guidelines. The review is examining a number of key aspects, including noise, setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation and dividend and grid connections.
It is working in conjunction with the Department of Climate, Environment and Communications, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters. Both Departments have been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the guidelines, which, I am informed, is highly technical in nature.
“The Departments have also been engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose, having regard to various targets that have been set. Further to this engagement, I am informed that the Department of Climate, Environment and Communication appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to work on amendments to those aspects of the guidelines. I am also informed that this work is now substantially complete.”
However, the spokesperson for the East Clare Environmental Protection group (CLG) said that if there was a greater sense of transparency and accountability, locals would not feel so “isolated” and “kept in the dark around the issue.”
“There is a frustration with central government in that regard. There are serious objections also because these wind farms could impact not just on Shannon Airport, but on Dublin Airport. It’s possible that this could stop any future expansion of Shannon Airport, which is hugely important for tourism in this part of the world, and also for business. Shannon Airport and AirNav, as the experts, have voiced huge concerns, and I don’t understand why their worries are being ignored.”
Shannon Airport has objected strongly to the plans for wind turbines in East Clare, hitting out over a “lack of consultation” around the plans. The airport criticised the company representing the developers of the proposed windfarm in East Clare over a lack of consultation, on a plan has claimed“would adversely affect safe air traffic services.
In a letter to An Bord Pleanála, seen by Clare FM last November, The Shannon Airport Authority DAC said the sitting of wind turbines at the location in East Clare may have implications for the operations of the communication, navigation and surveillance systems used by AirNav Ireland in the separation and safety of aircraft and that the turbines may affect flight paths.
“I’m just really surprised that this issue has not gained more traction in the press,” Nick told Gript, adding: “We feel like the tide is turning against us. Even with regard to the protection of wildlife, including protected species, this seems to have gone out the window with regard to wind farms.”
“One of the major planks of good governance is transparency and accountability, and we don’t seem to have gotten either of those things when it comes to wind farms.”
Local TD in the area, Fianna Fáil’s Cathal Crowe, says that An Coimisiún Pleanála and local authorities should refuse planning permission for the wind turbines which are to be located close to air traffic control radar installations,
They have expressed serious concerns over how the wind turbines could compromise the safe operation of their radar infrastructure. Deputy Cathal Crowe has called for this warning to be heeded. The Deputy has called upon An Coimisiún Pleanála and local authorities who are assessing planning permissions relating to the windfarms to ask themselves if the safety of passengers can be underwritten.
“If they can’t and if mitigating measures put forward are inadequate, they must listen to the real experts here, AirNav, and outrightly refuse planning,” Mr Crowe said in a statement last month.
“Going forward, local authorities should urgently amend their renewable energy zonings so that sufficient safeguarding is given to air navigation and ground-based avionic infrastructure.”
Orsted, the developer of the planned Oatfield Windfarm, has said that in conjunction with a comprehensive programme of environmental studies, landowners within the study area were engaged early on in the process.
“While it is generally our aim to secure as much suitable lands as possible, in order to maximise the benefits of the proposed development, sometimes landowners do not wish to progress with the development or may come to agreement with another renewable energy developer and we respect the decisions that people choose to make in these instances. As the Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy, we celebrate the role that other developers play in helping to achieve this vision,” it said in a statement on its website.
“With rising energy costs becoming a major issue for people in Ireland throughout their day-to-day lives, there are clear benefits to be seen in the development of an indigenous renewable energy resource, like here in Oatfield. This helps to secure Ireland’s independent future, by reducing our reliance on volatile and costly energy imports. Ørsted owns and operates 19 wind farms across Ireland providing 327MW of electricity to the national grid, with additional renewable projects in the construction and planning phases. The company is committed to helping Ireland to position itself as a modern, low-carbon country powered by a secure, local energy generation network,” it said, adding:
“We seek to be good neighbours in the communities in which we develop, operate and repower projects. Engagement with the local community is a key activity for the project team. The project team will be meeting with the local community to ensure that information is made available and that queries are responded to in a transparent and efficient manner.”