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Wind Power News: Northern Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Co Tyrone 75m wind turbine refused due to “potential shadow flicker” and wildlife concerns
A planning application for the replacement of a wind turbine on lands north of No 62 Tullydraw Road, Dungannon, has been refused as the said wind turbine would have been nearly twice the height of the existing one. The existing wind turbine is 42m in overall height, while the new turbine would have had an overall height of 75m. The planning officer who assessed the planning application wrote: “I consider the proposed turbine will have an unacceptable impact on visual . . . Complete story »
DUP MP fears Scottish wind farm could alter ‘cherished’ Giant’s Causeway views
DUP politicians have hit out at the Scottish Government over fears a new offshore wind farm could impact tourism at the Giant’s Causeway. Gregory Campbell, the MP for East Londonderry, said he is worried that the development could “severely affect the iconic views from the UNESCO World Heritage Site.” Irish state-owned utility ESB won the rights to develop a 100-MW floating offshore wind in last year’s Crown Estate leasing round. Malin Sea Wind will lie approximately 14 miles southeast of . . . Complete story »
Proposal for wind farm in Northern Irish beauty spot refused
An application for planning permission to build a wind farm at a Northern Irish beauty spot has been refused. The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) has issued a Notice of Opinion to refuse planning permission for the proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Deemed ‘regionally significant’, the planning application was for a windfarm comprising 14 three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbines. After considering it, civil servants – who are running the DFI . . . Complete story »
Knock Iveagh: Planning system branded ‘profoundly ill’ after Minister declines to move against wind turbine
Northern Ireland’s planning system has been branded “profoundly ill” after John O’Dowd’s decision not to enforce planning restrictions against a wind turbine built near a 5,000 year-old Neolithic burial site. Campaigners have long been calling for enforcement of the regulations against the development, a move that was supported by the Historic Monuments Council and the government’s own archaeologists. The turbine was passed when planning powers lay with Stormont although it is understood heritage experts, who would have recommended refusal, were . . . Complete story »
Knock Iveagh: Removing wind turbine is council’s job, John O’Dowd says
Campaigners have said they are extremely disappointed after the infrastructure minister decided not to take action against a controversial wind turbine in County Down. The turbine is at Knock Iveagh, a 5,000-year-old Neolithic burial site and historic monument near Rathfriland, Opponents believe the turbine damages the heritage site. However there has been an ongoing row over who is responsible for taking action against it. The Department of Infrastructure said the minister, John O’Dowd, has written to the chief executive of . . . Complete story »
Councillors say ‘no’ to 15 turbine wind farm
Concern was expressed at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Thursday (August 4) over potential “negative impact on tourism”. The Department for Infrastructure is consulting with the borough council over a planning application submitted by Larne-based company Renewable Energy Systems (RES) based at Millbrook, the same company that is behind a proposal for Ballygilbert Wind Farm outside Ballygally. The Unshinagh Wind Farm will be located five miles south west of Carnlough and five miles west of Glenarm in . . . Complete story »
County Derry residents anger over wind farm plans
A group of County Derry residents have hit out at plans to dramatically redevelop a number of wind turbines at a nearby wind farm. Rigged Hill wind farm is situated in the Drumsurn ward and sits amid a triangle cornered off by Drumsurn, Limavady and Ballerin. Built in 1994 and run by Scottish Power Renewables, the site comprises 10 turbines generating up to five megawatts of renewable power. A line on the company’s website states that, in its current form, . . . Complete story »
Planning permission sought for a 14-turbine wind farm near Carnlough
A planning application has been submitted to the Department for Infrastructure for the construction of a 14-turbine wind farm on the Antrim Coast. The project is being developed by Larne-based company Renewable Energy Systems (RES) based at Millbrook, the same company that is behind a proposal for Ballygilbert Wind Farm outside Ballygally. The Unshinagh Wind Farm will be located four kilometres west of Carnlough in the townlands of Drumourne Unshinagh Mountain, if it is given the go-ahead. RES says that . . . Complete story »
Council spent almost £1m to date in legal battle over huge wind turbine beside ancient site
A Northern Ireland council has already spent almost £1m in an ongoing legal battle with a government department. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council last year launched legal action against the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in relation to issues around the erection of a wind turbine at a historic site in Co Down. The Sunday Independent has learned the council has so far paid £940,000 in legal costs in connection with the case. A Stormont committee which oversees the . . . Complete story »
Protest calls for removal of turbine from 5,000-year-old burial site
A group demanding the removal of a controversial wind turbine from the site of a 5000-year-old protected burial site, has staged a protest this afternoon, utilising an ancient Irish trumpet. The hill, at Knockiveagh near Rathfriland in Co Down, was also used as an inauguration site for local kings thousands of years ago. It has commanding views of the surrounding area, including the Mourne Mountains. Planning permission was granted for the turbine even though the Stone Age burial cairn on . . . Complete story »
