Small wind farm projects say they are being forced to go abroad for finance as they are being refused loans by Irish banks who say they can't access funding due to Irish banking's poor international image. "The Irish co-ops are being told by the Irish banks that they just can't access the money from abroad; that trust has been lost," said an IWEA source.

General Ireland

The NI Planning Service has still made no decision on an application by a Co Antrim manufacturer to construct a massive wind turbine at its Roughfort Road headquarters. People living near Mallusk plastics company Brett Martin have objected to the firm's plan, raising concerns about the sheer scale of the proposal.

General Ireland

A handful of US infrastructure funds are understood to be in the final shake-out to buy wind farm assets being sold by SWS, the Cork-based energy and business services group. The potential suitors are vying to acquire SWS's 180 megawatts of operating wind farm assets around the island of Ireland. Bidding for these assets is believed to be running north of €400m, including the assumption of debt attached to the projects.

General UK Ireland

A second public inquiry into the proposed Den Brook wind farm gets under way on Thursday. It is understood the outcome could affect the future of wind farms across the UK. ...The crux of the campaigners' case is that data supplied by RES shows the company has significantly underestimated the effect of atmospheric conditions on the levels of noise likely to be produced. The group is also making submissions on the landscape.

General UK Ireland

A dispute over an alleged agreement for a €135 million wind farm in Co Cork has come before the Commercial Court. Denis Cremins claims SWS Energy Ltd is in breach of a joint venture agreement (JVA) with him for the construction of a 29-turbine wind farm at Knockacummer, and is seeking orders restraining the development unless all conditions attached to it are fully complied with.

General Ireland