Ireland's biggest wind farm opens in Derry

The biggest wind farm in Ireland was officially opened in Co Derry today.

The biggest wind farm in Ireland was officially opened in Co Derry today.

The 20-turbine facility at Altahullion, seven miles from Dungiven, will produce 26 megawatts - enough to power 20,000 homes.

The new wind farm provides an 80 per cent increase in Northern Ireland's renewable energy generation capacity.

Belfast-based Energia has signed a 15-year contract worth £22 million sterling with wind farm developers B9 Energy and Renewable Energy Services who carried out the construction work.

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Energia will supply the wind-generated electricity to a range of small businesses and two main Belfast hospitals, five local councils and all five education and library boards in the province.

But there is considerable local opposition to a proposal for another wind farm of up to 60 turbines in the sea off Portstewart, Co Derry, and only a short distance down the coast from the scenic Giant's Causeway.