Commissioner Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy met with Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bord na Móna to learn about Bord na Móna’s work delivering climate solutions. Commissioner Simson visited Mountlucas where she saw at first hand Bord na Móna’s work in peatland rehabilitation, and renewable energy.
The Commissioner had the opportunity to hear and about Bord na Móna’s plans to develop Ireland’s first dedicated renewable energy business park on 3,000 hectares of its landbank in Meath, Offaly and Westmeath.
Commissioner Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy said: “Across the EU, member states recognise that we need to diversify our energy supplies in order to make the best use of our infrastructure while doing the right thing for our planet. Bord na Móna’s work is impressive and important. From peatland rehabilitation and recycling to renewable energy resources, they demonstrate how climate solutions can also support economic growth and development. The proposed energy park is a model for renewable infrastructure that helps businesses be more sustainable and climate friendly in their day-to-day operations”.
Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bord na Móna said: “We are delighted to welcome Commissioner Simson to Mountlucas today. Securing independent energy supply is a critical issue for Europe and Bord na Móna is playing our part in energy transition and creating a more sustainable future for Ireland.
We shared with the Commissioner details of our investment in green energy solutions and our plans to build Ireland’s first energy park. This ambitious project will reduce Ireland’s reliance on national grid infrastructure and will increase self-sufficiency and energy security in the country while meeting the needs of the national and regional economies”.
The Bord na Móna Energy Park will be developed across peatlands close to Junction 3 of the M6 Motorway at Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath. It is expected to potentially co-locate 200MW+ of electricity directly beside businesses locating in the Energy Park. The electricity will be generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, energy storage and green hydrogen production.
Bord na Móna expects that the Energy Park will be attractive for Industrial and high-demand energy users such as large-scale distribution facilities and data centres as the co-located approach is more sustainable and has lower environmental impact. The Bord na Móna Energy Park will facilitate the reduction of energy costs and carbon emissions while guaranteeing a secure and reliable source of power for users.
A planning application for the development of the Energy Park is being prepared for submission to planning authorities next year.
The company’s Peatlands Climate Action Scheme (PCAS) involves rehabilitating approximately 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands previously used for energy production over the past number of decades. Degraded peatlands are a source of carbon emissions rather than a sink as they would be in their natural state. The investment will deliver concrete benefits, such as, reducing carbon emissions; transitioning the lands towards carbon sequestration and enhancing their carbon storage potential. In addition, it will provide natural capital opportunities, increasing biodiversity, supporting peatland amenity and eco -system services, as well as improving water quality and attenuation. The scheme has funding of up to €126 million from Bord na Móna, the Irish Government, Life Peatlands & People Integrated Project, while also benefitting from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
