SSE and Coilite have completed a €176 million finance deal to develop the second stage of a wind farm in Galway.

The 169MW Galway Wind Park project is located south-west of Oughterard.

Phase one of the scheme began construction in February 2015 and is owned by SSE, while the 105MW Phase two consists of a joint venture (JV) between SSE and Coilite.

Development of the second phase is due to begin immediately.

SSE Generation will operate the wind farm which will have the capacity to generate enough green energy to power 84,000 homes, equivalent to almost 90% of the homes in Co Galway.

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The green energy produced at Galway Wind Park will help to offset approximately 190,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year from fossil fuel generation.

The overall project is expected to be complete in 2017.

Paul Cooley, SSE plc Director of Renewables, said: "SSE is proud to be Ireland's largest provider of wind power and the country's leading single investor in greener energy generation since 2008.

"Our investment with project partner Coillte at Galway Wind Park marks the most significant commitment yet that SSE has made in renewable generation here and reflects the exceptional quality of this Galway site for wind energy generation as well as the outstanding project partnership that we enjoy with Coillte.

"We are now looking forward to completing construction and towards embarking upon a truly exciting partnership with Coillte throughout the lifetime of this best-in-class wind farm."

(LM/JP)