SSE Renewables has announced the completion of the 101 MW Yellow River Wind Farm in Ireland, which is now supplying clean and secure renewable energy to homes and businesses across the Midlands. Located near Rhode, the 29-turbine development has entered full commercial operation, generating enough electricity to power nearly 75,000 households annually.

According to SSE Renewables, the project’s delivery follows the successful upgrade of the nearby 110 kV Derryiron transmission station by EirGrid, which enabled the firm connection of the wind farm to the national grid. SSE highlights that the completion of Yellow River is a key contribution to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, supporting the country’s 2030 renewable energy and decarbonization targets, as well as national energy security objectives.

The company noted that the first commissioning at the site helped Ireland reach a milestone of 5 GW of installed onshore wind capacity in January 2025. Beyond climate and energy benefits, Yellow River also delivers a positive local impact through a significant community benefits fund.

Stephen Wheeler, CEO of SSE Renewables, said that “SSE is working hard to turn Ireland’s climate and energy ambitions into reality. The completion of the country’s newest onshore wind farm at Yellow River demonstrates our commitment. As Ireland’s clean energy leader, we are ready to work with government, industry partners, and local communities to accelerate renewable deployment, including future onshore projects and Arklow Bank 2 offshore wind, helping achieve a fully renewable energy system for Ireland.”

Yellow River is part of SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme (NZAP), a fully funded investment initiative that will see the company invest over €900 million in local Irish energy by 2027. The 101 MW capacity of Yellow River raises SSE’s total onshore wind portfolio in Ireland to 800 MW across 32 operational sites.

All energy from Yellow River is contracted under a 16.5-year RESS 3 low-carbon generation agreement with the Irish government. SSE will also manage a multi-million-euro Community Fund to support local initiatives, projects, clubs, and services throughout the contract period.

Construction began in October 2022, with 29 Nordex N117/3600 turbines installed starting December 2023. First energization occurred in December 2024, with commissioning taking place in the first half of 2025. At peak construction, the project employed up to 150 full-time workers, totaling around 400,000 hours of work across SSE employees and main contractors. Key supply chain partners included Nordex Group, Farrans Construction, Suir Engineering, and Galway Port.

Heather Donald, Director of Onshore Wind, Solar, and Batteries (GB & Ireland) at SSE Renewables, added that “completing the project safely and efficiently after three years of construction is a fantastic achievement for our team and supply chain partners. We are also grateful to Offaly County Council and other key local stakeholders for their support.”

SSE emphasized that Yellow River not only supports Ireland’s energy security and climate goals but will also deliver tangible benefits to the region through its multi-year community fund over the wind farm’s operational lifetime.