Turbotricity

Ireland has probably the most liberal regulations in the EU for installing domestic wind turbines. Basically, small turbines are considered as an exempt development – in other words, you don’t need to look for planning subject to some conditions.

However it should be noted that recently An Bord Pleannala insisted in the removal of a wind turbine because it interfered with the character of the landscape and impacted on the archaeology of the area. Any general exemption from planning is still subject to certain restrictions which are outlined in the legislation (SI 600 of 2001). One of the key restrictions is that if the installation is deemed to interfere with the character of a landscape or a view of special amenity it would still require permission.

There are two sets of exemptions – domestic and agricultural/commercial.

For domestic houses, the total permitted height of the turbine from ground to blade tip is 13m. The distance from any boundary to the base of the turbine must be its height plus 1m. The rotor must be less than 6m in diameter, the turbine can’t be attached to a building, can’t carry advertising logos, and must quieter than 43 db at the nearest dwelling. The full list of exemptions can be downloaded by clicking here.

For commercial turbines, the total permitted height is 20m, the distance from any boundary is its height plus 5m, the rotor can be up to 8m in diameter. There are a few other restricitions in relation to proximity to power lines, airports etc., and you can find the full list of exemptions here

These are not limits on the turbine you can put up – simply exemptions to planning. Provided you are willing to put in a planning application (and are successful) you can go above these limits. There is a risk that by exempting a height of 13m, someone with a site that really needs a 20m tower won’t go to the trouble of putting in a planning application, and will end up with a severely compromised turbine that is inneffective.

As for the boundaries between what is an agricultural site, and what is a domestic site, there are no clear lines that I can see. Cabbage patch anyone?