Wind turbine Ballybrit

snubbleste · 20-03-2013 9:09pm #1

Only noticed recently a wind turbine has been erected and is functioning on the Ballybrit industrial estate. It is located on the left as you head outbound on the N6 after the petrol station. It looks rather pleasant and complements its surroundings.
When was it erected and who owns it?

Are there any other wind turbines within the city boundary excepting the docks area?

BhoscaCapall · 20-03-2013 9:11pm

I'm a big fan of wind turbines.

dilallio · 20-03-2013 9:24pm

It's been there for a good few months - it's powering Supermac's headquarters.

Probably installed to offset excessive carbon emissions from all those curry-cheese chips.

fergiesfolly · 20-03-2013 9:44pm

dilallio wrote: »

It's been there for a good few months - it's powering Supermac's headquarters.

Probably installed to offset excessive carbon emissions from all those curry-cheese chips.

I thought it was to blow away the emissions of all those curry/cheese chips

Probably need a bigger turbine though

Chemical Burn · 20-03-2013 9:45pm

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I'm a big fan of wind turbines.

The sheer size is mind Blowing

biko · 20-03-2013 10:43pm

There's another on the way to Claregalway. Don't know who owns it though, maybe C&F Green Energy?

galwayrush · 20-03-2013 10:45pm

biko wrote: »

There's another on the way to Claregalway. Don't know who owns it though, maybe C&F Green Energy?

That's in the grounds of a private residence.

Mrs OBumble · 21-03-2013 1:12am

snubbleste wrote: »

It looks rather pleasant and complements its surroundings.

I agreed with you when I saw it first, and think it looks just fine in the industrial estate.

But a while ago I was going down Castlepark, and was surprised by just how large/imposing it looks on the horizon: not sure if view-shafts are part of the planning process here, but if they are I'm surprised it got permission.

antoobrien · 21-03-2013 10:28am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

But a while ago I was going down Castlepark, and was surprised by just how large/imposing it looks on the horizon: not sure if view-shafts are part of the planning process here, but if they are I'm surprised it got permission.

"Loss of visual amenity" is the one that is usually tried in such cases, but beside the stands in the racecourse that thing is tiny - the stands can be seen from Oranmore, the turbine is not anywhere near as noticeable.

TristanPeter · 21-03-2013 11:58am

They are built by C&F Green Energy here in Galway (near to Athenry). I know because my father designed them. There's another one on the left as you go from Carnmore cross to Oranmore, on a farm. Personally, I think the one at the Supermacs depot looks great, and in my opinion it adds some relief to an otherwise, fairly bleak, industrial environment.

snubbleste · 21-03-2013 12:09pm

I'm surprised that it is a Supermacs venture, I assume there exists a tax relief or grant for a company doing this?
I like it, it's one of the better structures to appear in Galway in the past decade.

Zzippy · 21-03-2013 1:07pm

I think they're great to see in an urban environment - seriously what "visual amenity" would they be impeding in most locations in Galway city? Personally I don't consider a view of rooftops/buildings a "visual amenity"...

Mrs OBumble · 21-03-2013 2:34pm

antoobrien wrote: »

"Loss of visual amenity" is the one that is usually tried in such cases, but beside the stands in the racecourse that thing is tiny - the stands can be seen from Oranmore, the turbine is not anywhere near as noticeable.

Have you driven northwards along Castlepark since it went up?

Like I said, I only saw the problem when I actually drove along that road and saw the effect of surprisingly large-looking blades totally dominating the skyline. From everywhere else, it looks fine, IMHO.

antoobrien · 21-03-2013 2:54pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Have you driven northwards along Castlepark since it went up?

Like I said, I only saw the problem when I actually drove along that road and saw the effect of surprisingly large-looking blades totally dominating the skyline. From everywhere else, it looks fine, IMHO.

Yeah, took notice of it the first time. It doesn't catch my eye now at all unless I'm on the DC under it.

Zzippy · 21-03-2013 5:41pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Have you driven northwards along Castlepark since it went up?

Like I said, I only saw the problem when I actually drove along that road and saw the effect of surprisingly large-looking blades totally dominating the skyline. From everywhere else, it looks fine, IMHO.

Is this the skyline view you're talking about? https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.287968,-9.004393&spn=0.006337,0.016512&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=53.287968,-9.004393&panoid=B7II082QrESTODj8sn5Sbg&cbp=12,353.96,,0,0

Seriously, if a wind turbine sticking up behind/over that commercial premises skyline view is a problem its a wonder anything ever gets built in this country. Talk about mountains and molehills!

Redhairedguy · 21-03-2013 5:44pm

I like it. It makes me want Supermacs... and endorse renewable sources of energy.

Win - Win

Esroh · 22-03-2013 10:51pm

There is one in GMIT as well

Mrs OBumble · 23-03-2013 1:35pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Is this the skyline view you're talking about? https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.287968,-9.004393&spn=0.006337,0.016512&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=53.287968,-9.004393&panoid=B7II082QrESTODj8sn5Sbg&cbp=12,353.96,,0,0

Seriously, if a wind turbine sticking up behind/over that commercial premises skyline view is a problem its a wonder anything ever gets built in this country. Talk about mountains and molehills!

No.

More like this one.
https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.28666,-9.002781&spn=0.000013,0.006727&t=h&layer=c&cbll=53.28661,-9.002722&panoid=gYLkhwaEsqPu2PG7DCx7Gw&cbp=12,335.83,,0,-3.28&z=17

From here, you just get the sails sticking up over the horizon, and cannot see the pole that they're mounted on. Visually quite intrusive.

Zzippy · 24-03-2013 1:36am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

No.

More like this one.
https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.28666,-9.002781&spn=0.000013,0.006727&t=h&layer=c&cbll=53.28661,-9.002722&panoid=gYLkhwaEsqPu2PG7DCx7Gw&cbp=12,335.83,,0,-3.28&z=17

From here, you just get the sails sticking up over the horizon, and cannot see the pole that they're mounted on. Visually quite intrusive.

Seriously? I mean, seriously???

snubbleste · 31-03-2013 2:12pm

Turns out that Supermacs don't have permission for the structure..Go figure.
They've applied for planning retention in the name of Atlantic Enterprises Ltd http://gis.galwaycity.ie/ePlan/InternetEnquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=1368

Supermacs have also applied to retain a bored water well at the same site. Is that where they get the Supermacs water from?
http://gis.galwaycity.ie/ePlan/InternetEnquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=1390

So now you know how to do it, you just stick a wind turbine in the back garden and apply for retention afterwards.

Redhairedguy · 31-03-2013 3:57pm

snubbleste wrote: »

Supermacs have also applied to retain a bored water well at the same site.

I'm sorry but this is all I could think of when I read this...

Apologies for crudeness of work. It is Easter and there are eggs to eat...

ScumLord · 02-04-2013 6:23pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

But a while ago I was going down Castlepark, and was surprised by just how large/imposing it looks on the horizon: not sure if view-shafts are part of the planning process here, but if they are I'm surprised it got permission.

It wouldn't surprise me if the locals complained just for the sake of complaining. In 20 years time if they decided it was redundant and wanted to take it down again you'd probably have the very same people complaining that it's part of the skyline now and it can't be taken down like that nonsense with the Chimney stacks in Dublin.

Irish people should be forced to wallow in their own muck for 5 years and then see if how many objections they have to modern services being erected. There seems to be a new sign put up saying no to something every time I pass through Tuam.

snubbleste · 16-05-2014 1:48pm

snubbleste wrote: »

So now you know how to do it, you just stick a wind turbine in the back garden and apply for retention afterwards.

Retention permision for wind turbine granted

Mrs OBumble · 16-05-2014 2:22pm

snubbleste wrote: »

Retention permision for wind turbine granted

And the listless well?

snubbleste · 16-05-2014 2:23pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

And the listless well?

Pending.

gordongekko · 16-05-2014 2:34pm

I'm pro Wind turbines myself but I'm not sure about that decision. It does seem out of character in the particular location.

Thargor · 16-05-2014 2:58pm

gordongekko wrote: »

I'm pro Wind turbines myself but I'm not sure about that decision. It does seem out of character in the particular location.

I think its great, they can fill every town and cities industrial zones in the country with them as far as Im concerned, especially when they're building them in Ireland.

folbotcar · 17-05-2014 11:34am

gordongekko wrote: »

I'm pro Wind turbines myself but I'm not sure about that decision. It does seem out of character in the particular location.

I'm anti wind turbines generally. They are probably one of the biggest scams there is, not nearly as energy efficient as they were supposed to be and a blight on the countryside. They're a blind alley in energy production.

On the other hand the I'm fine with the Supermac turbine. It's in an industrial estate beside a main road across from another industrial estate. The place is a visual mess. The turbine looks fine there. Nobody lives near it.

ratracer · 17-05-2014 11:04pm

folbotcar wrote: »

I'm anti wind turbines generally. They are probably one of the biggest scams there is, not nearly as energy efficient as they were supposed to be and a blight on the countryside. They're a blind alley in energy production.

On the other hand the I'm fine with the Supermac turbine. It's in an industrial estate beside a main road across from another industrial estate. The place is a visual mess. The turbine looks fine there. Nobody lives near it.

I think you need to look again, it's about 100m from a streets full of houses in Castle Park.

antoobrien · 19-05-2014 8:46am

ratracer wrote: »

I think you need to look again, it's about 100m from a streets full of houses in Castle Park.

and it looks like it's less than 5m higher than the surrounding buildings

Lots of guff for something that is not nearly as visually obtrusive as say the Derrybrien windfarm, whose turbines can be seen from the prom on a clear day.

ratracer · 19-05-2014 10:53am

antoobrien wrote: »

and it looks like it's less than 5m higher than the surrounding buildings

Lots of guff for something that is not nearly as visually obtrusive as say the Derrybrien windfarm, whose turbines can be seen from the prom on a clear day.

I'm not sure I'm taking the context of 'lots of guff' correctly, but if it's in relation to my post, which you've quoted, I responded to a post that said the Supermacs turbine is in the middle of an industrial estate and not near where anyone lives, which is wrong, unless the residents of Castle Park don't count. That is all, a simple correction to a post. I didn't claim any rights or wrongs of the location, planning issues ar any other 'guff'.

Wind turbine Ballybrit

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