WEALTH October 8, 2025 0 Comments

How SSE Renewables’ 29-Turbine Yellow River Wind Farm Just Changed the Game for Green Energy Investors Forever

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a gust of wind into a powerhouse that lights up 75,000 homes? Well, SSE Renewables just dropped a game-changer in the heart of Ireland’s Midlands with their brand-new Yellow River Wind Farm in County Offaly. Clocking in at a hefty 101MW across 29 turbines, this beast of a project isn’t just spinning blades—it’s spinning the needle on clean energy and carbon offsetting by nearly 70,000 tonnes every year. And here’s the kicker: it helped Ireland smash through the 5GW milestone for onshore wind capacity, a huge leap toward the country’s 2030 emissions targets. With grid upgrades by EirGrid and a whirlwind of mechanical checks behind it, Yellow River is firing on all cylinders, proving that ambitious climate action isn’t just talk—it’s happening. So, what’s next when a project like this sparks a renewable revolution? Let’s break down how SSE is playing offense in Ireland’s energy game and what that means for communities and investors alike. LEARN MORE

SSE Renewables has strengthened its onshore wind presence in Ireland with the completion of the Yellow River Wind Farm in County Offaly — a 101MW, 29-turbine project that is now generating clean electricity for Irish homes and businesses from the heart of the Midlands.

Located near Rhode, the wind farm has entered full commercial operation following the completion of key grid upgrades by EirGrid at the nearby Derryiron 110kV Transmission Station.

The works enabled a firm grid connection, while each turbine underwent extensive mechanical, electrical, and safety commissioning checks before launch.

Now fully operational, Yellow River can produce enough renewable energy to power around 75,000 homes each year, offsetting almost 70,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The project also helped Ireland reach a significant energy milestone earlier this year — surpassing 5GW of installed onshore wind capacity in January 2025.

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.”

The project forms part of SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme (NZAP), which will see the company invest over €900m by 2027 in Irish renewable energy projects.

The addition of Yellow River brings SSE’s total installed onshore wind capacity in Ireland to 800MW across 32 sites.

Construction began in October 2022, with turbine installation starting in late 2023. At its peak, the project supported 150 construction jobs, clocking up 400,000 working hours.

Key supply chain partners included Nordex Group, Farrans Construction, Suir Engineering, and the Port of Galway.

Heather Donald, Director of Onshore Wind, Solar, and Battery (GB & Ireland) at 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.

Yellow River Wind Farm — Turbine parts, including towers, nacelles hubs and blades, are being delivered under Garda escort from Galway Port to the Yellow River site.

“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.”

Under a 16.5-year RESS 3 contract with the Irish Government, all electricity from the site is committed to low-carbon generation, with a multi-million-euro community fund set to support local initiatives and amenities over the coming years.