Company pushes ahead with wind energy project

ENERGY firm Gaelectric has confirmed that work on its £20million Newtownabbey wind farm project should be completed during the first quarter of 2013.

The company announced this week that it has entered a turbine supply agreement, and a full maintenance agreement, with ENERCON for the supply of turbines for the Carn Hill wind energy project. ENERCON will also provide, in close cooperation with Gaelectric, most of the civil and electrical infrastructure for the wind farm.

Gaelectric has already completed the first stage of construction at Carn Hill, a few miles from Straid. A total of six 2.3 Mega Watt turbines should be in place and operational by early next year.

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Once commissioned, Carn Hill will generate sufficient renewable power to meet the electricity needs of 7,900 homes and contribute to the displacement of approximately 25,000 tonnes of CO2. Gaelectric has secured a power purchase agreement with Electric Ireland for the sale of power generated at Carn Hill.

Commenting on the contracts with ENERCON, Gaelectric CEO Brendan McGrath said: “Carn Hill is a strategically important project due to the significant contribution it will make to Gaelectric’s portfolio of generating assets and, given its prominent location on an elevated site north of Belfast City, the clear signal it gives to the direction of power market development on the island of Ireland towards renewable energy sources. We are obviously delighted to have secured a partner of the standing of ENERCON for such an important wind energy project.”

Carn Hill is part of the first phase of Gaelectric’s onshore wind portfolio in Ireland which will see a total of £200million invested by 2016.

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