Concerns raised over Galway canal hydro plan linked to controversial Kildare project
Early plans for a pilot hydro turbine project on Galway’s canals have sparked both interest and caution, as city councillors recall a controversial Kildare project by a sister company of the renewable firm behind the proposal.
The project has EU funding of up to €3.3m available for drawdown. In partnership, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), University of Galway, Quirke Renewable Systems Ltd, and the Galway City Community Network are set to deliver three hydro turbines throughout the Galway City canals.
Part of that budget will go towards identifying the locations of the three small turbines within the canal network.
At the October city council meeting, Director of Services for Project Development Derek Pender stated that the turbines will power an EV charging station, a university building, and will also feed back into the city’s power grid.
Locations will be determined based on feasibility reports as the project progresses.
However, during the meeting, Cllr Shane Forde raised concerns about the company given the contract for the pilot programme, Quirke Renewable Systems.
The Irish Examiner reported that EcoHydro, a sister company to Quirke Renewables, was brought on to improve the existing hydroelectric generator at the K Club, a luxury golf resort in Kildare. A new generator was installed in the River Liffey expected to cover 70pc of power needs for the site.
It emerged later that the generator was not included in any planning permissions. This led Kildare County Council to investigate the K Club, which then switched off the turbine in May 2025.
“We can't have a project proceeding with negotiations with the different people involved and have any doubts hanging over us,” Cllr Forde stated.
In January 2025 the Irish Independent reported that Roqu Group, another company controlled by Robert Quirke, the owner of Quirke Renewable Systems, is being wound up as it can’t continue in business because of its liabilities
Roqu Group secured a major order from the HSE during the Covid crisis for €14m worth of ventilators that were never used, because they were non-compliant.
A notice in the official state gazette, Iris Oifigiúil, noted that the Roqu Group will be wound up because the company “cannot by reasons of its liabilities continue in business”.
However, Roqu Holdings is not in liquidation and as of the end of 2021 had €4.1m in retained earnings.
Roqu previously noted that it acted in good faith at all times and had refunded part of the money to the HSE.
Cllr Forde said he has been contacted by “numerous constituents” in relation to the Galway project.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Cllr Forde said: “We need to make sure that if we're getting EU funding that we have covered all our bases, we need to make sure that all the boxes were ticked.
“We need to make sure this company is 100pc capable of providing the project.”
One of his constituents is Billy Smyth who is part of the Galway City Salmon Angling Association and calls the project a “fish mincer”. Councillors in the chamber raised similar concerns as well.
Mr Pender assured the elected members that there will be “rigorous observance to ensure there is no impact in any shape or form on the fish in the river.”
Stakeholders, including fisheries, and consultations will be put in place prior to any formal permissions and construction Cllr Forde confirmed, saying that the planning application process is still a long way away.
He added that the “long term vision of [the project] is good” but said assurances and proof of successful recent projects would be sought from Quirke Renewables to ensure the planning process is safe and compliant.
“If these companies are doing these big projects, they need to make sure that they're complying with all the planning regulations first and foremost, and that we can give the people of Galway who are going to get the long-term benefits, the guarantees that everything was done 100pc.”