Wind turbine-making course aims to ease energy costs

A new course in Co Roscommon teaches locals how to build their own wind turbines to combat rising energy costs and climate change impacts. The eight-day DIY wind turbine construction course, funded by the EU Just Transition Fund, empowers communities to become more self-sufficient by creating renewable energy sources. Barry Tapster, Climate Action Officer with Roscommon County Council, explained the course covers welding, wood carving, and various tools to build a 2.4-meter diameter turbine capable of withstanding gale-force winds.

Participants have successfully built and installed turbines for homes, farms, or as a backup power source alongside solar panels. Eamon McCarthy and Shannon Copland, among other course graduates, plan to utilize the turbines on their eco-farms to reduce reliance on the grid and store energy for nighttime use. The course is part of the council's strategy to enhance climate resilience in the face of recent extreme weather events like Storm Éowyn.