London, May 9, 2026, 23:06 BST
- Planning consent has been granted for the Glenora Wind Farm in North Mayo, a 22-turbine project backed by SSE’s renewables unit and FuturEnergy Ireland.
- The project has the potential to export as much as 158MW—power capacity—but it’s still waiting on both grid and investment sign-offs.
- SSE bumped up its earnings outlook last month, and now investors await the company’s full-year results, set for May 28.
SSE PLC’s renewables division picked up planning approval, working with FuturEnergy Ireland, for a planned 158MW onshore wind project in North Mayo. The proposed Glenora Wind Farm—22 turbines in all, located near Ballycastle and Belderrig—adds another Irish development for the UK utility ahead of its full-year results expected later this month, SSE Renewables said Friday.
Timing is key here: SSE wants to demonstrate progress in its renewables pipeline even as it shifts focus further toward grids and regulated electricity networks. The group’s five-year investment blueprint comes in at £33 billion. Back in April, SSE projected adjusted earnings per share — that’s profit per share minus certain items — would land between 147 pence and 152 pence for the year ended March 31.
The move lands as Ireland steps up efforts to boost clean energy on its grid. Back in February, the Irish government reported close to 8GW of renewable electricity capacity—roughly 5GW of that from onshore wind. Officials are targeting renewables to supply 80% of the country’s electricity demand soon.
SSE Renewables lodged the planning application back in December 2023, following a public engagement process stretching from 2021 through 2023. Glenora, if it moves forward, could deliver as many as 120 jobs during peak construction. A few permanent roles would remain once operations begin, and a community benefit fund is set to launch after commercial operations kick off.
Ghislain Demeuldre, who heads onshore wind, solar and battery development at SSE Renewables, called the move “another step forward” for the SSE-FuturEnergy Ireland portfolio. He pointed to the need for grid investment in Ireland’s north-west, framing it as “essential”—a reference to the congestion that can stall a project even after planning permission lands. SSE Renewables
Mary Lynch, delivery director at FuturEnergy Ireland, described the consent as “an extremely positive outcome,” pointing out that the project stands to bolster energy security and supply both homes and businesses. FuturEnergy Ireland, which co-develops Glenora with SSE on a 50:50 basis, lists the wind farm among a portfolio of six projects in Donegal, Cork, Kerry, and Mayo. SSE Renewables
SSE holds 800MW of active onshore wind assets throughout Ireland—683MW of that spread over 27 locations in the Republic. Among those: the 174MW Galway Wind Park, run jointly with Greencoat Renewables, plus County Offaly’s 101MW Yellow River project.
But getting planning consent doesn’t automatically mean construction is a go. According to SSE Renewables, Glenora still requires sign-off for grid-related infrastructure, an actual grid link, and a commercial route to market—which just means a power contract or a buyer lined up. Plus, both sponsors have yet to make their final investment decisions.
Developers are still jockeying for promising onshore spots in Ireland. ESB reports its joint venture with Coillte, FuturEnergy Ireland, is targeting 1GW of wind capacity by 2030. Statkraft, calling Ireland a key growth market for onshore wind, points to multiple projects it has under construction or in the pipeline.
Shareholders are watching for the May 28 results—that’s when the real test comes. As of Friday, May 8, SSE’s investor page pegged the share price at 2,505 pence. Preliminary results for the year to March 31 are set for release later this month.
Back in April, Reuters noted that SSE raised the bottom end of its full-year profit outlook, citing stronger renewables output and more spending on its networks. They’re now targeting a 10% bump in renewables production, up to 14.5 terawatt hours. Glenora doesn’t match SSE’s larger grid or offshore schemes in size, but it’s another test case for the same investor question: can the company actually secure enough permits, connect to the grid, and deploy capital fast enough to hit those ambitious growth targets?
