Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today announced that C&F Green Energy Limited is to create 145 new jobs in Athenry, Co Galway, over the next three years, with support from Enterprise Ireland.
The jobs are aligned to the commercial manufacturing of the C&F Green Energy’s range of new small wind turbines, which have been in development over the past two years.
These turbines, ranging from 6kw to 50kw, are much smaller than the large megawatt-rated turbines associated with large windfarms. They are designed to power farms, factories, individual residential dwellings and export any surplus electricity back to the local grid.
The Taoiseach also announced that Enterprise Ireland has made a significant investment in the company and is providing grants to support the employment of the 145 new employees.
C&F Green Energy Limited comprises part of the C&F Manufacturing Group, which is owned and managed by John Flaherty, the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The group employs more than 1,100 people worldwide (Germany, Czech Republic, the Philippines and China) and 500 people in Athenry and Mullingar (Iralco). It operates in a number of sectors, including tool design/manufacturing, automotive (Iralco), refrigeration (mobile and fixed), IT hardware and renewable energy.
C&F Green Energy was established in 2009 when the company identified that the market for small wind turbines was well matched with its core competencies. Since then, considerable development work has been undertaken by the company, resulting in a new range of free-standing small wind turbines for generation of home-produced electricity, ranging from 6kw to 50kw. The company already has a number of orders for the home UK and European market.
Announcing the jobs, Kenny said: “Not alone are we seeing 145 new manufacturing jobs come on stream today but this project has the potential to generate significant spin-off to the Irish economy. The project gives a substantial push to the development of Ireland’s green economy and will help place Ireland in the forefront of the developing renewable energy sector worldwide. Through Enterprise Ireland, the Government is proud to support this ambitious and visionary investment.”
