Some 145 jobs are to be created at a green energy firm manufacturing small scale wind turbines for farms, factories and homes.

The C&F Green Energy plant in Athenry, Co Galway, will take on the staff over the next three years.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced the expansion and said it would help put Ireland at the forefront of the renewable sector worldwide.

"Not alone are we seeing 145 new manufacturing jobs come on stream, but this project has the potential to generate significant spin off to the Irish economy," he said on Friday.

"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."

C&F Green Energy's small turbines have been in development for the last two years. They range from 6kw to 50kw and are much smaller than the large megawatt rated power generators used in large wind farms. The investment was backed by Enterprise Ireland.

The design is ideal for farms, factories and individual residential dwellings and allows users to export surplus electricity back to the local grid.

John Flaherty, C&F Green Energy managing director, said: "We are excited about the employment and exporting prospects that it holds for C&F and for our employees into the future as we are certain that we have developed a leading-edge range of products to service a growing world-wide market."

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach opened a new 40 million euro engineering building in NUI Galway.

From September, the four-storey facility and its 400 rooms will accommodate 1,100 students and 110 staff. It will support the development of engineers engaged in a new wave of technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship.