RENEWABLE firm Gaelectric said it is on track to complete wind energy projects to provide 400MW of power by next year.
The Belfast-based company has just opened its third wind farm in Northern Ireland, a four-turbine facility in Eglinton, Co Derry.
The latest project at Monnaboy on Loughermore Mountain represented an investment of £16.8 million.
In the last four years, Gaelectric has secured planning approval for nine Northern Ireland wind farm developments.
The company’s first operational facility in the north was a £20m wind farm in Newtownabbey.
It has also completed a £58m project between Limavady and Coleraine.
The company's head of corporate affairs Patrick McClughan the official opening of Eglinton facility was "yet another important milestone for our business".
“Our total permitted portfolio now stands at 140MWs in Northern Ireland and represents a total investment of approx £170m," he said.
"This consolidates Gaelectric’s position as the largest indigenous renewable energy company in Northern Ireland, and we are proud to make a significant contribution to Northern Ireland’s renewable energy targets.
“It is important to Gaelectric that local communities close to the Monnaboy wind farm have the opportunity to share in the social and economic benefits of this renewable energy development.
“To ensure this happens in a tangible way we have launched the Monnaboy Community Benefit Fund, which has the objective of supporting local community projects within the area. Independently administered and managed on behalf of Gaelectric by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, the Fund will provide grant support of between £500 and £5,000 to local community and voluntary groups which are delivering projects that support community cohesion in the area. Community projects will be able to access approximately £300,000 over the 25 year lifespan of the project.”
The company is also developing a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) facility in Larne.
It will be the second power station constructed in Europe with the capability to store energy as compressed air in caverns created within geological salt layers at depths of 600m to 800m below ground and will be capable of generating 268 MW of electricity.
