Sunday 27 May 2007

Green light for Slieve Divena wind farm

RES UK & Ireland Ltd has received full planning permission to build a new 12 turbine wind farm at Slieve Divena, near Garvaghy, Co. Tyrone.

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, 7km north-west of Ballygawley and 6km south-east of Beragh and Sixmilecross. Planning permission was granted for 12 turbines, site tracks, a substation and meteorological mast.

The project will be built by Renewable Energy Systems Construction Ltd., using local company - WH 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.

Eimear continued - "The Slieve Divena project has been well received by the local community and we would like to thank them for their continued support."

RES UK & Ireland Ltd is a member of the Renewable Energy Systems Group (RES Group), which is one of the world's leading wind farm companies, involved in the development, construction and operation of wind farms across the UK and Ireland, Europe, North America and Australia. It is part of the Sir Robert McAlpine group of companies.

RES Group has developed six of the existing wind farms in Northern Ireland (Rigged Hill, Corkey, Elliott's Hill, Lendrum's Bridge, Altahullion and Callagheen) and the single turbine Slievenahanaghan. A further four RES-developed Northern Ireland projects have been granted planning permission and are in the process of being constructed/awaiting construction (Lough Hill, Altahullion Extension, Wolf Bog, Slieve Divena).

The planning application for Slieve Divena was submitted under Wind Farm Developments Ltd - a joint venture between RES Ltd and B9 Energy Services Ltd. RES Group has fully-owned Wind Farm Developments since May 2006. Wind Farm Developments Ltd's business has been conducted by RES UK & Ireland Ltd since February 2007.

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