LONDON, March 31, 2026, 18:12 BST
SSE Plc, working alongside Irish partner BnM, has filed a planning application for the Lemanaghan Wind Farm—aiming for 90 megawatts of generating capacity—in County Offaly. The project blueprint features 15 turbines, targeting a site in north-west Offaly close to Ballycumber, Ferbane, and Pollagh, as the British utility steps further into Ireland’s onshore renewables space. SSE Renewables
Timing is key here. Ireland is targeting renewables for 80% of its electricity needs by 2030, and just this month the government reported hitting 8 gigawatts of installed renewable capacity. EirGrid, the grid operator, points out the network still isn’t robust or adaptable enough to handle that level of wind and solar. Gov
This drops ahead of SSE’s year-end report. The group has a scheduled market statement set for April 2, with full-year numbers following on May 28. Back in February, it flagged 2025/26 adjusted earnings at 144-152 pence per share—down from last year’s 160.9 pence—as network investment hit the bottom line. CFO Barry O’Regan said they remain intent on “accelerating investment and delivering the plan.” SSE
SSE says its Offaly wind farm project could generate enough electricity each year for as many as 65,700 homes, while cutting over 56,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The proposal features a new 220-kilovolt substation. The company submitted the application as a strategic infrastructure development, meaning the plan heads straight to Ireland’s national planning commission instead of through local council channels. SSE Renewables
The company expects the project to use less than 5% of the total site, with peak construction potentially creating as many as 120 jobs. Plans also include walking and cycling trails, plus a community fund projected at around 8 million euros for the first 15 years. “Accelerating Ireland’s clean, secure and affordable renewable supply has never been more important,” said Ghislain Demeuldre, SSE Renewables’ head of onshore projects Ireland. SSE Renewables
Brendan Kelly, BnM’s head of commercial, said the project aims to push out imported fossil fuels and deliver more affordable energy for customers in the long run. Lemanaghan is part of a 50:50 joint venture between SSE and BnM, announced in 2024, with a goal of up to 800 MW of onshore wind across Ireland’s Midlands and over 1 billion euros in possible investment over the next ten years. SSE Renewables
SSE pushed ahead with its Irish portfolio, bringing the 101-MW Yellow River wind farm in Offaly online back in October. That project instantly became Ireland’s latest onshore wind farm. SSE
SSE is making its case to investors for a much larger spending drive. Back in November, it rolled out a five-year, 33 billion pound investment plan. Jefferies analyst Ahmed Farman at the time called it a move that provided “clarity on the balance sheet and the company’s growth outlook.” Then, in February, Reuters noted that SSE and Germany’s RWE landed among the top beneficiaries in Britain’s latest offshore wind auction. Reuters
The Offaly project hasn’t hit the construction phase yet. SSE and BnM still need planning approval, a viable market path, and a green light on their final investment. Public files are set to be available April 7 through May 26. Since 2021, the firms say they’ve talked with residents and coordinated with Ireland’s National Monuments Service, submitting a full environmental report and tweaking their plans along the way. SSE Renewables
