Wind Power News: Northern Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Wind farm gets green light from planners
Work on the construction a 14 megawatt wind farm at Carn Hill near Knockagh is scheduled to get under way next year, it has been confirmed.
Last week, Irish renewable energy company Gaelectric was granted planning permission to construct six 101 metre high turbines on land just off the Slievetrue and Rea Hill Roads.
Carn Hill wind farm, Gaelectric’s first in Northern Ireland, will be capable of generating energy equivalent to the average electricity consumption of approximately 8,200 homes on an annual . . .
Wind farm gets planning approval
Planning approval has been given for a wind farm in Carn Hill, Newtownabbey, in County Antrim.
Gaelectric is to build a 14 Megawatt wind farm of six wind turbines, capable of generating energy for 8,200 homes a year.
The company has also committed to spending up to £5m in construction and operation costs with local companies, creating up to 30 jobs.
Gaelectric has 25 projects at different stages of development in Ireland.
Brendan McGrath, chief executive of Gaelectric, said the company had been working . . .
Anger at turbine approval
Planners have given the green light to an application by Mallusk plastics company Brett Martin to construct a mammoth wind turbine at its Roughfort Road headquarters.
The approval means that Brett Martin can now proceed with its proposal to build a single wind turbine with an overall height of 99.5 metres and hub height of 64 metres on the factory site.
A spokesperson for Brett Martin said: “We welcome the Council’s decision to give the proposed wind turbine the go ahead.
“As a . . .
Co Antrim wind turbine stalled
The NI Planning Service has still made no decision on an application by a Co Antrim manufacturer to construct a massive wind turbine at its Roughfort Road headquarters.
People living near Mallusk plastics company Brett Martin have objected to the firm’s plan, raising concerns about the sheer scale of the proposal.
Back in October 2007, local residents were outraged when the company submitted a plan to erect a 125 metre turbine – one of the largest anywhere in Ireland. However, a revised . . .
Opposition to wind turbine plan
Planning Service has confirmed that no decision has yet been made on an application by Mallusk plastics company Brett Martin to construct a massive wind turbine at its Roughfort Road headquarters.
People living in the area have objected to the firm’s plan, raising concerns about the sheer scale of the proposal.
Back in October 2007, local residents were outraged when the company submitted a plan to erect a 125 metre turbine – one of the largest anywhere in Ireland. However, a . . .
Windfarm may jeopardise passenger safety
The safety of aircraft passengers may be jeopardised if a proposed windfarm near Limavady goes ahead.
This was the verdict of Julian Benbow, Operations Manager at City of Derry Airport, who warned that the windfarm at Smulgedon Hill in County Londonderry may interfere with the installation of radar systems and would breach airport safeguarding policy.
Energy company Gaelectric plans to erect seven wind turbines at the site south of Legavallon Road near the County Londonderry village of Drumsurn between Limavady and Dungiven.
But . . .
Bangor seafront Ulster’s ‘worst eyesore’
A North Down town’s derelict seafront has been named the worst eyesore in Ulster.
Bangor’s Queen’s Parade took the dubious honour in the penultimate episode of UTV series Ultimate Ulster.
Host Frank Mitchell described Queen’s Parade as the “runaway winner” in a public vote to name the sight we least enjoy in Northern Ireland.
Locally labelled as the “gap in Bangor’s smile”, the once bustling Victorian seafront of Queen’s Parade first fell into serious disrepair around ten years ago when North Down Borough . . .
Environment Minister to examine Drumquin windfarm issue
Drumquin’s apparent position as the centre for windfarm development in West Tyrone is to be examined by the Minister for Environment at Stormont, Edwin Poots.
The DUP politician made a commitment to address the issue when it was raised at a meeting last week. The development comes as the famed ‘Hills Above Drumquin’ look set to be home for over 140 wind turbines.
Earlier this month Omagh councillors warned that the number of wind turbines locally was reaching what they described as . . .
Wind turbine protest gathers pace with public meeting
Around 100 people from the Draperstown area attended a public meeting in the Rural College last Thursday.
The Friends of Lough Patrick gave a presentation on the history of Lough Patrick.
During the discussion which followed the mood of the meeting was one of anxiety and anger that such an important area was about to be destroyed by the introduction of wind turbines.
People wanted to know how they could help with the campaign and were told that objections could still be lodged . . .
NI Water plans three wind farms
The company responsible for supplying Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage infrastructure intends to move into the renewable energy market.
Northern Ireland Water has asked for companies interested in building and operating wind farms at three sites in NI to submit a tender by 1 December.
The proposed sites are at Lough Mourne and Woodburn North reservoirs, on the outskirts of Carrickfergus,
The third is at Lough Bradan, close to Drumquin in County Tyrone.
The invitation to tender, which is posted on NI Water’s website, . . .
