EUROPE’S leading solar energy company Lightsource Renewable Energy is commissioning a major solar development in Antrim.
It will be Northern Ireland’s largest solar energy development and will create enough energy to power more than 11,000 homes, reducing the north’s use of fossil fuels.
The project is estimated to save 18,140 tonnes of carbon annually, a saving which would be equivalent of taking over 4,000 cars off the road.
The new solar energy project is made up of a network of five sites, linked by a single connection to the electricity grid.
Locations for the project are Lough Road, Moira Road, Belfast Road (Nutts Corner), Knockcairn and Hillside.
The projects were designed after a period of community consultation and each has been designed to increase local biodiversity levels.
Sites will feature new planting of native hedgerow, wildflowers and the installation of bird and bat nesting boxes around the sites.
Lightsource opened Northern Ireland’s first solar farm in 2016, a private wire connection to Belfast International Airport.
The Executive's target is to meet 40 per cent of the energy demand from renewable sources by 2020 and large-scale solar can play a key role in the overall energy mix, by providing a predictable and reliable source of energy.
Nick Boyle, chief executive at Lightsource, said they were delighted to complete the "landmark" project.
"Domestically generated solar energy has an important role to play in relation to meeting Northern Ireland’s energy needs," he said.
"In addition to being a clean, renewable source of energy, solar is cost effective and can be deployed quickly and efficiently.
"In a post Brexit environment, it is also good news that we are developing local projects that make Northern Ireland’s energy supply more secure and reduce the need for imported gas and other fossil fuels."
