Northern Ireland regulator rejects Unshinagh Wind Farm

Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure issued a notice of opinion refusing planning permission for the Unshinagh Wind Farm.

The 14-turbine onshore wind farm, planned approximately 2.5 miles west of Carnlough, has been proposed by Renewable Energy Systems (RES).

In reaching the decision the permanent secretary of the department has given full and careful consideration to all material planning considerations, the department said in a media release.

Due cognizance was given to the contribution that renewable energy can make to both the economy and tackling climate change; however in this case the significant harm that would be caused to the landscape of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the ecological impacts on protected species within the Antrim Hills Special Protection Area along with the archaeological, cultural and tourism assets in the locality outweighed the economic and environmental benefits, the department said.

The applicant and the Mid and East Antrim Council may seek a hearing before the Planning Appeals Commission, within 42 days of the date of the Notice of Opinion.

Jennifer McCorry, Senior Development Project Manager at RES, said, “This week we learned that 2023 was the world’s hottest year on record, a sobering reminder of the real and present dangers posed by climate change. In response, Northern Ireland has rightly set legally binding targets to deliver 80 percent of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

“To achieve these targets we urgently need more domestic renewables generation, from projects like Unshinagh, to help deliver clean, low cost electricity for Northern Ireland consumers. In 2022 alone, NI consumers avoided paying $637.5 million (GBP 500 million) to import gas because of electricity provided by wind”.

“We had estimated that Unshinagh would involve a capital spend of $77.7 million (GBP 61 million) and of this total, GBP 24.7 million would be realized within the Northern Ireland economy. In terms of jobs we had also projected that the 12-month construction would create up to $6.3 million (GBP 5 million) of wages,” McCorry said, adding, “We’re extremely disappointed by the decision and will take the opportunity to carefully review the reasons for refusal”.

Northern Ireland’s Climate Bill has set a target of 80 percent of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030, and it is expected that 65 percent of this will need to come from onshore wind. RES said that if approved, Unshinagh Wind Farm would be capable of generating 58.8 MW of clean, low-cost electricity, equivalent to the electricity usage of around 70,000 homes each year.