What is onshore wind?

Onshore wind power is electricity generation through wind farms based on land that operate using wind. The wind speeds tend to be slower than offshore, but onshore wind farms are much easier to manage due to accessibility. Onshore wind farms tend to span over a large rural area, this is as there is less obstacles like buildings to interrupt airflow. 

The power is created by the wind turning the turbine blades which creates kinetic energy. The blades turning then makes the shaft in the nacelle (the part in the middle of the turbine blades) turn and a generator in the nacelle converts this kinetic energy into electrical energy as a direct current. A converter in the turbine then converts this to alternating current, allowing it to be transported to the transmission network where the voltage is increased for transportation. 

SSE's onshore wind portfolio

< GW
installed capacity
onshore windfarms in the UK and Ireland
international onshore wind farms in development
> GW
onshore wind capacity in development internationally

SSE's onshore wind farm locations

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Calliachar

SSE Renewables's 14-turbine 32.2MW Calliachar wind farm was completed in 2012.

Achany Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 19-turbine 38MW Achany wind farm was completed in 2010.

Artfield Fell Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 15-turbine 19.5MW Artfield Fell wind farm was completed in July 2005.

Balmurrie Fell

SSE Renewables's 7-turbine 9.1MW Balmurrie Fell wind farm was completed in September 2012.

Bhlaraidh wind farm

SSE Renewables's 32-turbine 108MW Bhlaraidh wind farm was completed in August 2017.

Clyde Wind Farm

Clyde Windfarm (Scotland) Ltd is a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables, Greencoat UK Wind Plc and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd. It has 206 turbines with an installed capacity of 522MW. Clyde wind farm generates enough renewable energy to power over 290,000 homes.

Drumderg Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 16-turbine 36.8MW Drumderg wind farm was completed in 2008.

Dunmaglass Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 33-turbine 94.05MW Dunmaglass Wind Farm was completed in 2017,

Fairburn Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 20-turbine 40MW Fairburn Wind Farm was completed in February 2010.

Gordonbush Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 35-turbine 71.75MW Gordonbush Wind Farm was completed in June 2012.

Gordonbush Extension Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 11-turbine 38MW Gordonbush Extension Wind Farm was completed in 2021.

Hadyard Hill Wind Farm

Hadyard Hill Wind Farm was the UK's biggest at the time of construction and the first onshore wind farm in the UK to generate above 100MW (generating 117.3MW). This SSE Renewables wind farm can generate enough renewable electricity to power around 82,550 homes a year.

Keadby Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's Keadby Wind Farm is England’s largest onshore wind farm. This 34-turbine 68MW renewable energy generation site can power approximately 57,000 homes.

Spurness Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 5-turbine 10MW Spurness Wind Farm was completed in October 2012.

Strathy North Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 33-turbine 67.65MW Strathy North Wind Farm was completed in June 2015.

Stronelairg Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 66-turbine 228MW Stronelairg Wind Farm was completed in December 2018.

Tangy Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 22-turbine 18.7MW Tangy Wind Farm (comprising two phases) was completed in 2003/2007.

Toddleburn Wind Farm

The SSE Renewables-owned 12-turbine 27.6MW Toddleburn Wind Farm was completed in 2010.

Athea Wind Farm

The 34MW 16-turbine Athea Wind Farm in West Limerick has been producing green energy since 2014. The SSE Renewables-owned wind farm is located approximately 6km to the north of Abbeyfeale, close to the village of Athea. Athea Wind Farm can power around 23,000 homes and mitigate around 28,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Bindoo Wind Farm

The 48MW Bindoo Wind Farm in Cootehill in Co. Cavan was commissioned in March 2007 and consists of 32 turbines. The SSE Renewables-owned wind farm can power around 32,000 homes and help abate almost 40,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Coomacheo Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 18-turbine Coomacheo Wind Farm has an installed capacity of 41.4MW. The wind farm became fully operational in August 2008. Coomacheo Wind Farm can power over 27,000 homes and help abate over 33,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Coomatallin Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 4-turbine, 6MW Coomatallin Wind Farm entered commercial operation in 2005. Coomatallin wind farm can power around 4,000 homes and help abate almost 5,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Corneen Wind Farm

The two-turbine, 3MW wind farm on the Slieve Rushen mountain entered commercial operation in 2001, becoming SSE Renewables’ second wind farm to be opened in Ireland. Corneen wind farm can power almost 2,000 homes and help abate almost 2,500 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Culliagh Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's Culliagh Wind Farm was the first wind farm in Ireland to be fully funded by the private sector when it was built in 2000. Comprising 18 turbines, the wind farm has an installed generation capacity of 11.9MW. Culliagh Wind Farm can power almost 8,000 homes and help abate over 9,500 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Curragh Wind Farm

Located between Ballyvourney and Millstreet in north County Cork, SSE Renewables's 8-turbine Curragh Wind Farm has an installed capacity of 18.4MW. The wind farm became fully operational in 2009.

Dromada Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's Dromada Wind Farm became fully operational in February 2010. The 28.5MW wind farm comprises 19 turbines. Dromada Wind Farm can power almost 19,000 homes and help abate around 23,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Dunneill Wind Farm

The 11MW wind farm comprises 13 turbines and entered commercial operation in 2010. Dunneill Wind Farm can power almost 7,500 homes and help abate around 9,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Galway Wind Park

The 174MW Galway Wind Park, co-owned by SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables, in Connemara’s Cloosh Valley, is Ireland’s largest and best-performing onshore wind farm, generating more green energy than any other wind generation site on the island, producing enough renewable energy every year to power over 140,000 Irish homes.

Gartnaneane Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 15MW Gartnaneane Wind Farm comprises ten turbines and entered commercial operation in 2004. Gartnaneane Wind Farm can power almost 10,000 homes and help abate around 12,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Kingsmountain Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 25MW Kingsmountain Wind Farm comprises ten turbines and entered commercial operation in 2003. Kingsmountain Wind Farm can power around 16,500 homes and help abate around 20,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Knockastanna Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 6MW Knockastanna Wind Farm comprises four turbines and entered commercial operation in 2009. Knockastanna Wind Farm can power 4,000 homes and help abate almost 4232KG of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Leanamore Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 18MW Leanamore Wind Farm comprises nine turbines and entered commercial operation in 2018. Leanamore Wind Farm can power 12,000 homes and help abate almost 14,500 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Meentycat Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 72.4MW, 38-turbine phase 1 Meentycat Wind Farm was commissioned in 2004, as well as its 9.2MW, 4-turbine Cark and 6.9MW, 3-turbine Meenbog extensions which were both commissioned in 2009. Meentycat Wind Farm can power over 59,000 homes and help abate over 58,500 metric tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Mullananalt Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 7.5MW Mullananalt wind farm comprises five turbines and entered commercial operation in 2007. Mullananalt Wind Farm can power 5,000 homes and help abate around 6,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Rathcahill Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 12.5MW Rathcahill wind farm comprises five turbines and entered commercial operation in 2011. Rathcahill Wind Farm can power almost 8,250 homes and help abate around 10,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Richfield Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 27MW Richfield wind farm comprises 18 turbines and entered commercial operation in 2006. Richfield Wind Farm can power almost 18,000 homes and help abate almost 22,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Richfield Solar and BESS

SSE Renewables is proposing to develop a c.21MWp solar PV array (solar farm) on lands near the existing 18-turbine Richfield Wind Farm in, County Wexford. The Richfield Wind Farm has been in operation since 2006 and can power almost 18,000 homes and helps to abate almost 22,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Tournafulla Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 27MW wind farm entered commercial operation between 2007 and 2008. The 18-turbine wind farm comprises the 7.5MW, 5-turbine phase 1, which was commissioned in 2007, and a 19.5MW expansion which was commissioned a year later in 2008. Tournafulla Wind Farm can power almost 18,000 homes and help abate almost 22,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Bessy Bell Wind Farm

The 16-turbine 14MW Bessy Bell Wind Farm was built in two phases completed in 1995 and 2008. The SSE Renewables wind farm can power around 8,000 homes annually and mitigate around 6m kilos of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Slieve Kirk Wind Park

The 32-turbine 73MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park, built in two phases, was completed in 2012 and 2014. Slieve Kirk Wind Park is Northern Ireland’s largest wind farm and can typically power around 65,000 homes annually. The SSE Renewables wind park's output is helping to abate almost 60,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Tievenameenta Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's 34.5MW wind farm comprises 15 turbines and entered commercial operation in 2017, just 12 months after construction began on the project. Tievenameenta Wind Farm can power 30,000 homes and help abate almost 28,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.

Achany Wind Farm Extension

The Achany Extension Wind Farm (formerly known as Glencassley) will be constructed on land adjacent to SSE Renewables’ operational Achany Wind Farm. It is anticipated to generate more than 80MW, Achany’s existing 19 turbines, already generate 38MW of renewable energy, meaning the combined capacity could generate more than 118MW.

Bhlaraidh Extension Wind Farm

SSE Renewables has been awarded planning permission to extend the existing Bhlaraidh Wind Farm, located on the Glenmoriston Estate, northwest of Invermoriston in the Great Glen. The revised 15 turbine proposed development will generate approximately 84 megawatts (MW), while the existing 32 turbines already generate 108 MW. The combined capacity could therefore generate approximately 192MW.

Tangy Repower

The SSE Renewables Tangy Repower project is a 16-turbine redevelopment of the existing Tangy Wind Farm, situated approximately 9km northwest of Campbeltown on the west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll and Bute.

Viking Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's Viking wind farm will be a 103-turbine, 443MW onshore wind farm in the Shetland Islands that will be capable of producing enough energy to power the equivalent of almost half a million homes. When complete in 2024, it will be the UK’s largest onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output.

Strathy South Wind Farm

SSE Renewables's Strathy South wind farm is a consented 35-turbine project located around 12km south of Strathy village in Sutherland.

Cloiche Wind Farm

The proposed 125MW (29 turbines) Cloiche wind farm is located adjacent to the operational Stronelairg wind farm. On Monday 30th November 2023 the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit approved SSE Renewables Section 36 application for the wind farm.

Yellow River Wind Farm

Yellow River Wind Farm is a 29-turbine wind farm development in central Ireland with an installed capacity of over 100MW. SSE Renewables commenced construction on the wind farm in October 2022, with the expected completion date in 2024.

Drumnahough Wind Farm

The proposed Drumnahough Wind Farm in County Donegal is a 50/50 co-development onshore wind project between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland. The project proposes 12 turbines capable of generating around 60MW of green energy. When complete and operational, the wind farm will be capable of generating enough green energy to power around 40,000 homes.

Lenalea Wind Farm

The proposed Lenalea Wind Farm is a 50/50 joint venture onshore wind project between SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland. The project will consist of seven turbines and when complete it will have an installed capacity of 30MW, enough low-carbon renewable energy to power over 20,000 Irish homes annually and offset almost 20,000 metric tonnes of carbon per annum*.

SSE's operating expertise

Maintaining and extending the life of our onshore wind portfolio plays an important part in helping us achieve our strategic goal of delivering 30TWh of renewable output by 2030.

Central to achieving this service strategy is our in-house Onshore Wind Operations turbine maintenance team.

Established in 2010 to deliver enhanced levels of operational efficiency, this hard-working and dedicated SSE Renewables team safely maintains over 400 turbines across almost 30 operational wind farms, making it the largest in-house turbine maintenance capability in the UK and Ireland.

More on onshore wind

England's largest onshore wind farm

Keadby wind farm

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One of Ireland's largest onshore wind farms

Galway wind park

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Northern Ireland's largest onshore wind farm

Slieve Kirk Wind Park

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Our renewable energy business unit

Want to learn more about onshore wind?

Visit SSE Renewables's website