Large wind farms for a project the scale of the Energy Bridge will provide a secure and stabilising influence on the local economy, and an additional 35% of jobs will be created indirectly, benefiting the whole of the existing local community. So, for example when 100 people are employed directly another 35 jobs are created in local shops, hair-dressers, crèches, restaurants, cinemas and much more, due to the money the direct employees and their families spend locally on a daily basis.
Wind farms generate local employment throughout their lifecycle, from the early years in the development phase, right through construction to the operational phase which lasts 25 years or more.
Development and pre-construction stages
In the development and pre-construction phase, multiple environmental and engineering studies must be carried out to inform the design of the wind-farm and prepare the site. This stage employs many specialist consultants, many of whom will be locally based. It will also require local contractors, plant hire, catering and other services throughout the life of the project.
Where these specialists are not locally based, they will often require accommodation and other hospitality services which generate a broad range of employment in the area.
Construction stage
Currently in Ireland 150 direct jobs are created to develop and construct every 30 turbines. The amount of jobs created in your area will be proportional to the size of wind farms agreed to
be developed, from a total of 5,000MW, or 7,500 ‘man’ years of direct employment. Many of these would be in the construction sector and would include local plant hire contractors, construction sub contractors and material providers.
Operation & Maintenance (O&M)
In the O&M phase Mainstream expects a total of about 500 people to be directly employed in the localities of the Energy Bridge wind farms to operate and maintain these wind farms over their lifetime. These are therefore long-term jobs, providing continuous employment for 25 years or more, and by their nature, cannot be relocated out of the area of the wind farms.
