SSE powers up 101MW Yellow River Wind Farm constructed by Farrans

SSE has grown its onshore wind portfolio in Ireland with the completion of Yellow River Wind Farm which is now producing clean and secure renewable power from the Midlands for Irish homes and businesses. Farrans was the lead civil engineering contractor on this project.

The 101MW, 29-turbine wind farm in Rhode, County Offaly has entered full commercial operations and is now Ireland’s newest onshore wind farm.

The delivery of Yellow River by SSE Renewables comes after the successful completion of planned upgrade works by EirGrid at the existing nearby Derryiron 110kV Transmission Station which has enabled the wind farm to move to a firm grid connection. It also follows commissioning works during which each wind turbine at the extensive project site underwent detailed mechanical, electrical, and safety checks.

Construction of Yellow River began in October 2022, with delivery and installation of 29 Nordex N117/3600 wind turbines commencing in December 2023. First energisation at the site was achieved in December 2024 ahead of the commencement of commissioning works throughout the first part of 2025.

At peak delivery, the project supported up to 150 full-time construction phase jobs at the site, representing around 400,000 recorded working hours at the site across main contractors and SSE employees. Supply chain partners included wind turbine supplier Nordex Group, lead civil engineering contractor Farrans Construction, and electrical balance of plant lead Suir Engineering, as well as delivery partner Port of Galway.

Brian McCool, Contracts Director at Farrans, said: “We are proud to play a key role in the delivery of this important project for SSE Renewables, one which will have a significant positive impact on the future of low-carbon energy generation in Ireland. We completed 29 concrete pours each consisting of either 470m3 or 540m3 of concrete, we have built four bridges each with a 16m span and 26km of haul roads. We have worked with our client and Nordex to ensure that the turbine delivery route was made suitable to support the component deliveries from Galway Port to the site. We then went on to finish the crane hardstandings, with collector network and cabling commissioning before site reinstatement.”

Yellow River is now capable of generating enough homegrown clean energy to power the equivalent of almost 75,000 homes annually while displacing nearly 70,000 metric tonnes of harmful carbon emissions each year*.

The wind farm’s completion marks another vital contribution by SSE towards Ireland’s Climate Action Plan commitments, helping meet the State’s 2030 renewables and decarbonisation targets and assisting the country’s security of supply goals.

SSE’s delivery of Yellow River Wind Farm has helped Ireland meet a pivotal milestone in its transition to a more sustainable energy future. First energisation at the site powered Ireland forward to reach an installed capacity of 5GW of onshore wind in January 2025.

In addition to delivering climate action and energy security benefits, Yellow River also delivers a positive impact to the region through a substantial community benefit fund.

Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director of SSE Renewables, said:

“SSE is working hard to turn Ireland’s ambitions for climate action and energy security into reality, and the completion of the country’s newest onshore wind farm at Yellow River is the latest demonstration of our commitment.

“As Ireland’s clean energy champion, SSE is ready to play its part with government, industry partners and communities to ramp up Ireland’s efforts to meet our 2030 emissions targets and to ensure and protect our energy security. This includes taking action to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy through the delivery of Ireland’s next generation of onshore wind farms or with our plans to progress Arklow Bank 2 to help meet Ireland’s offshore wind potential. Working together, we can power the change we need to deliver a renewables-led energy system for Ireland.”

SSE has delivered Yellow River Wind Farm as part of its Net Zero Acceleration Programme (NZAP). This fully funded investment programme will see the low carbon energy company invest over €900m by 2027 in homegrown Irish energy to help secure Ireland’s energy future.

The addition of 101MW of new generation capacity at Yellow River brings SSE’s overall installed capacity of onshore wind in Ireland to 800MW across 32 operational wind farms sites.

All Yellow River’s power has been contracted under a 16.5-year RESS 3 contract for low carbon generation from the Irish Government. Over the lifetime of this contract, SSE will distribute a multi-million-euro Community Fund to local initiatives, projects, clubs and amenities.

Heather Donald, Director of Onshore Wind, Solar, Battery (GB & Ireland), for SSE Renewables said:

“We’re delighted we’ve completed Yellow River Wind Farm and we’re now generating homegrown clean energy from the Midlands for Irish energy consumers. Safely and efficiently completing the project after three years of construction is a fantastic achievement for our entire team and supply chain partners. We’re also extremely grateful to Offaly County Council and other key local stakeholders for their support during construction.

“Delivery of Yellow River provided a significant boost to the economy in Offaly and the surrounding region through construction employment and supply chain benefits. With the site now successfully transferred to our Onshore Wind Asset Management team, we can now look forward to Yellow River not only playing a vital role in meeting Ireland’s energy security and climate action goals, but also in creating real benefits to the region from a multi-year community fund which will ensure local people can benefit from the operation of Yellow River throughout its life span.”

* Quoted 73,730 homes powered per annum claim based on latest typical annual consumption, 4,200kWh per household; Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, November 2024, typical 35% capacity factor for RESS-3 supported onshore wind, and installed capacity of 101MW. Quoted 69,055 metric t/CO2 reductions per annum based on expected annual output and latest average CO2 Emissions (0.223g/kWh) in the All-Island Single Electricity Market, published in the Fuel Mix Disclosure and CO2 Emissions for 2023 , SEM Committee, December 2024.