JC Mont‑Fort International continues its European expansion, announcing land control for 80 MW of wind projects in Ireland and about 100 MW in Spain.
Ireland: three‑county cluster totals 80 MW
In 2021 the group incorporated JC Mont‑Fort Ireland Ltd to spearhead development in Counties Clare, Cork and Limerick. Guided by local manager Jude O’Reilly and engineering support from southern France, the team has now secured land leases covering ~80 MW of on‑shore capacity.
Why Ireland?
- 80 % renewable‑electricity target by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan
- RESS auctions provide price certainty for on‑shore wind
- Rapid demand growth from data‑centre build‑out and electrification
- Western seaboard offers some of Europe’s highest capacity factors
- Ability to export clean power to the UK & mainland EU via interconnectors
“Our aim is to retain one or two projects and operate them as an IPP, while recycling capital from the remainder,” JC Mont‑Fort said.
Spain: 18 wind projects, 87 MW connected at distribution level
The Spanish pipeline consists of 18 projects, each < 5 MW, grouped into clusters that share ~4 km common interconnection lines to local distribution substations. In total the portfolio employs 19 turbines for 87 MW of nameplate capacity and is expected to deliver ≈3 000 full‑load hours per year thanks to favourable wind speed and air density.
Key features
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Land status | Parcels secured for most turbines; remaining plots in final lease or municipal approval |
| Grid strategy | Distributed generation < 5 MW avoids transmission‑level queue and minimises CAPEX/OPEX via shared infrastructure |
| Policy tail‑winds | Spain’s updated PNIEC 2024 lifts 2030 renewables target to ≈160 GW (62 GW wind) and 32 % CO₂ cut vs 1990 |
| Demand outlook | Rising electricity consumption from transport & heat electrification |
The Spanish government’s latest plan foresees renewables covering ≈81 % of generation by 2030, creating a deep market for merchant or PPA‑backed projects.
Strategic significance
- Diversifies JC Mont‑Fort’s pipeline into two high‑growth, policy‑supportive markets.
- Builds optionality: sell‑down strategy in Spain vs IPP ownership for flagship Irish projects.
- Leverages small‑to‑medium turbine clusters that can be financed and built quickly while avoiding lengthy TSO grid queues.
The company said it is now advancing environmental studies and grid applications, with first Irish construction permits targeted for 2026 and Spanish ready‑to‑build status staggered from 2025 onward.
At a glance
| Region | MW secured | Stage | Commercial target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland (Clare, Cork, Limerick) | 80 MW | Land control complete, resource assessment underway | RESS‑eligible COD 2027–2028 |
| Spain (18 projects < 5 MW each) | 87 MW | Land + preliminary grid nod; EIAs in progress | Phased COD 2025–2027 |
