Gaelectric to purchase wind turbines from Enercon for Antrim wind energy plant

Enercon has also been contracted to maintain wind turbines and to provide civil and electrical engineering infrastructure for the 13.8 MW wind farm.

Gaelectric has finished the first stage of construction at the wind farm and the new agreement with Enercon means the wind power project should be completed and commissioned during the first quarter of 2013.

Once commissioned, Carn Hill wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of some 7,900 homes. Gaelectric has an agreement in place with Electric Ireland for the sale of power generated at Carn Hill.

The wind power project is part of the first phase of Gaelectric’s onshore wind energy portfolio in Ireland which will see a total of £200 million (€254 million) invested by 2016.

Wind power in Ireland

1997: 53 MW
1998: 73 MW (+37.8 %)
1999: 73 MW (- %)
2000: 119 MW (+63.1 %)
2001: 125 MW (+5.1 %)
2002: 137 MW (+9.6 %)
2003: 186 MW (+35.8 %)
2004: 339 MW (+82.3 %)
2005: 495 MW (+46.1 %)
2006: 746 MW (+50.8 %)
2007: 805 MW (+8 %)
2008: 1,245 MW (+54.7 %)
2009: 1,260 MW (+1.3 %)
2010: 1,392 MW (+10.5 %)
2011: 1,631 MW (+17.2 %)

By José Santamarta, www.gaelectric.ie/