May 17, 2007
Northern Ireland

Green light for Slieve Divena wind farm

Full planning permission has been secured to build a 12-tubine windfarm at Slieve Divena, near Garvaghy. The project is being undertaken by RES UK and Ireland Ltd, part of the Sir Robert McAlpine Group which has windfarms across Europe, North America and Australia, including the Lendrum’s Bridge windfarm between Fintona and Fivemiletown.

Eimear Lenehan, project manager for RES UK & Ireland, said, “Wind energy makes sense for Northern Ireland as we are still over 95% dependent on polluting and insecure imported fuels like oil and gas. Slieve Divena Wind Farm will generate electricity equivalent to the annual needs of nearly 17,000 homes annually, providing a local source of energy and helping to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.”

The wind farm will be located to the east of Garvaghy, seven kilometres north west of Ballygawley and six klilometres south-east of Beragh and Sixmilecross. Planning permission was granted for 12 turbines, site tracks, a substation and meterological mast. The project will be built by Renewable Energy Systems Construction Ltd., using local company W.H. Alexander Construction Ltd of Omagh to undertake all the civil works.

The planning application, accompanied by a full environmental statement, was made in 2005 following a six-month long information programme for the local community and their representatives, involving door-to-door visits, letters and public exhibitions.

“The Slieve Divena project has been well received by the local community and we would like to thank them for their continued support,” said Eimear Lenehan.

The planning application for Slieve Divena was submitted under the name Wind Farm Developments Ltd, which was a joint venture between RES Ltd and B9 Energy Services Ltd. RES Group has fully owned Wind Farm Developments since May 2006 and conducted its business since February 2007.

nwipp-newspapers.com

17 May 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/05/17/green-light-for-slieve-divena-wind-farm/