Turbines in the bog

B9 Energy Services and Renewable Energy Systems have received planning permission to build Wolf Bog wind farm, an extension to Elliott’s Hill wind farm, at Tildarg near Ballyclare, in Co. Antrim.

B9 Energy Services and Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) have received planning permission to build Wolf Bog wind farm, an extension to Elliott’s Hill wind farm, at Tildarg near Ballyclare, in Co. Antrim.

Elliott’s Hill was built in 1995 and consists of 10 turbines, the Wolf Bog wind farm extension will consist of five larger turbines. When built, Wolf Bog will generate enough renewable and pollution-free electricity to meet the domestic electricity needs of twice the number of households in Ballyclare or approximately 6,000 households per year.

“Northern Ireland has a target to meet 12% of its electricity demand by 2012 from clean renewable energy like wind power”, said Denise Campbell of B9 Energy. "Currently only approximately 3% of Northern Ireland’s electricity comes from indigenous renewables so the output of Wolf Bog will be a significant boost to Northern Ireland’s contribution."

The project site is on farmland to the north west of Ballyclare and to the south east of Ballymena, in the townland of Tildarg. The wind farm will consist of five turbines as well as a meteorological mast, a sub-station and site access tracks.

It is expected that construction of the wind farm by RES will begin in 2006, when in excess of £1million will be spent locally sourcing labour, plant, materials and equipment.