Monday 2 July 2012

Irish wind project to help ‘plug UK’s energy gap’

A wind project in Ireland will help "plug the energy gap in the UK", according to the wind and solar company behind it. The 'Energy Bridge' wind park is expected to supply the UK with up to 5,000 MW of renewable energy from 2017.

Mainstream Renewable Power claims the project will help create 54,000 jobs and has the potential to make €2.5 billion (£2 billion) for the country every year.

The company also claims it has invested more than €500,000 (£402,000) to secure a grid connection to the UK and has identified 900 eligible landowners in the Irish midlands who could accommodate the wind turbines.

Diarmuid Twomey, the company's Development Manager at its Ireland office said: “This is an opportunity to generate a very substantial and guaranteed revenue stream over a 25 year period which will have minimal impact on the land, providing an additional revenue to future generations of farmers.”

The company hopes to reach an agreement with the landowners by October this year.