Stephen Wheeler, General Manager Ireland of Airtricity said, “The acquisition by Airtricty of Slieve Divena Phase II from RES UK & Ireland Ltd builds on the partnership that both companies forged on the existing 30MW Slieve Divena wind farm. The Slieve Divena extension will not only continue and deepen the relationship between Airtricity and RES but will also help us to partner with communities in Northern Ireland to secure our energy independence, end our dependency on foreign fossil-fuel imports, and help Northern Ireland meets its binding EU 2020 targets on Renewable Energy generation.”

RES UK & Ireland Ltd has completed an agreement to sell the eight turbine Slieve Divena Phase II wind farm project in Northern Ireland to Airtricity Developments (UK) Ltd.

Slieve Divena Phase II was granted planning consent in 2007 and will be situated near Sixmilecross in County Tyrone. It is a 20MW extension to the existing 30MW (megawatt) Slieve Divena wind farm, which became operational in March 2009. Slieve Divena Phase II will generate renewable electricity sufficient to meet the needs of an estimated 11,000 homes every year and provide a significant boost to Northern Ireland’s renewable energy generation.

The existing Slieve Divena wind farm comprises 12 turbines of 2.5MW and was also developed by RES before being sold to Airtricity in 2007.

The Slieve Divena extension continues RES’s successful development track record in Northern Ireland, where the company is currently developing and constructing a number of wind farm projects.

The acquisition by Airtricity of the Slieve Divena extension is another important step in the ongoing development of the leading renewable energy company’s wind farm portfolio in Northern Ireland, which includes wind farms at Tappaghan, Bin Mountain, Bessy Bell, Slieve Kirk, and the existing Slieve Divena.

CEO of RES Northern Europe, Douglas Wright, said, “We are delighted to complete the sale of phase two of Slieve Divena wind farm to Airtricity, following their acquisition of phase one in 2007. Our team in Northern Ireland has once again developed a valuable project that will make an important contribution to renewable energy targets and national energy security. It continues our success in the Northern Ireland market, which has enjoyed strong growth and where wind will continue to play a major role.”

Tags: Airtricity Holdings Limited, RES Group