Approval for Development of an Air borne Wind Test Site at Bangor Erris in North Mayo.

Date: 14-05-2021

A 12 Million project has been approved for an Ambitious 3-Year Air borne wind energy project. The project is centred round the development of an airborne wind test site at Bangor Erris in North Mayo Ireland.  The project is led by Mayo County Council working in partnership with RWE, Ampyx power Airborne wind Europe and other organisations across Ireland, Europe and the UK.

Funding for the project has been secured from Interreg North West Europe to validate the effectiveness of air borne wind energy  technology at a scalable commercial level, to accelerate the integration of  the various systems and to test the endurance  of the technology in real time under real world conditions.

The project will also create a regional supply chain architecture for the technology and enhance its investment potential through demonstration of the technology at utility scale power generation levels.

The European Commission has set ambitious targets for the EU to become carbon neutral by 2050.  This will require a diverse range of renewable energy technologies operating in an integrated way to provide constant reliable energy. Airborne wind energy has emerged as  a versatile and extremely efficient  energy source This project will establish this innovative technology as a key energy source  which will play a significant role in achieving renewable energy targets and assisting the transition from a carbon-based economy in Europe.

Cathaoirleach  of Mayo  County Council, Cllr Richard Finn welcomed the project approval “We are delighted to be part of this consortium which is delivering such innovation in Renewable Energy. Not alone is it showcasing these exciting emerging technologies but the fact that Mayo has been chosen to host the Test Site also showcases our extensive Renewable Energy Resources.”

Peter Duggan, Interim Chief Executive at  Mayo County Council outlined “This project along with other Renewable Energy projects in North Mayo such as the Ownniny Wind Farm and the AMETS offshore Test Site illustrates the importance of the County in terms of Renewable Energy on a National and European Level.  Its another significant step towards a sustainable future for County Mayo. “