Renewable energy developer RES has submitted a proposal to the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council for the construction of the Dunbeg South Extension Wind Farm. The 16.8MW project is located in the townlands of Dunbeg and Dunmore, approximately 6.2 kilometers northeast of Limavady, adjacent to a disused quarry and near the operational Dunbeg and Dunmore wind farms.
The project, if approved, is projected to contribute over £11 million to the Northern Ireland economy during its construction phase. Additionally, it is expected to generate around £6.5 million in business rates over its 35-year operational lifespan, supporting local services in the region.
David McVeigh, development project manager for RES, emphasized the importance of the project in advancing Northern Ireland's renewable energy targets:
“Every megawatt of clean energy counts just now as Northern Ireland faces the challenge of meeting its Climate Bill target of 80% of electricity consumption to be generated from renewable sources by 2030. It is expected that 65% of this will need to come from onshore wind, one of the cheapest forms of new electricity generation.”
McVeigh highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of onshore wind projects:
“Between 2020 and 2023, renewable electricity, of which around 80% was generated by onshore wind projects, saved each consumer £160 off their bills. In addition, the use of renewables avoided more than 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions—equivalent to taking 315,000 cars off the road today, about a quarter of the total number of vehicles in Northern Ireland.”
If granted approval, construction of the Dunbeg South Wind Farm Extension would take approximately 18 months. A decision from the council's Planning Committee is anticipated in the coming months.
