ONSHORE wind is now providing almost a quarter of electricity in the north according to the latest research.
New figures from NIE show that onshore wind accounts for 22.4 per cent of Northern Ireland's electricity, well in advance of the UK average. All renewable sources contributed 27.1 per cent.
In the UK as a whole, onshore wind currently provides just six per cent of electricity, so proportionately Northern Ireland is way ahead in terms of generation from this power source.
Onshore wind has now passed the 1GW milestone, with 1,029MW of onshore wind connected in Northern Ireland. This is on the back of the significant delivery of large onshore wind projects this year, representing £127.4 million of local investment.
Onshore wind is now by far the leading source of clean electricity in Northern Ireland, representing 78 per cent of installed renewable capacity.
The chair of the Northern Ireland Renewables Industry Group (NIRIG) Rachel Anderson described onshore wind as a real "success story".
"Onshore wind remains one of the vital growth areas to our modern low-carbon economy, so we need to ensure that politicians here join us in securing a bright future for this technology."
RenewableUK’s executive director, Emma Pinchbeck added:
“Renewable electricity is making a massive contribution to Northern Ireland, creating jobs, bringing inward investment and enabling local regeneration. Northern Ireland is making the most of its great onshore wind resources, embracing a mature technology which is now the cheapest way to generate electricity bar none, helping to keep consumers’ bills down."
