Funding secured for Portush power plant

A landfill gas-fuelled electricity plant capable of generating around 850 kW - enough to power over 500 homes - will be constructed at the Craigahulliar landfill site, near Portrush in Northern Ireland.

The facility will convert emissions from waste into electricity. Power from the project will be sold to Airtricity under an initial three year power purchase agreement.

Funding for the project was sourced by London-based investment manager, Triple Point, which has been actively exploring funding opportunities for energy projects in Northern Ireland in recent times.

Richard Murphy, a lawyer at Pinsent Masons in Belfast who acted as lead adviser on the deal, says, "The market for small and medium scale renewables projects remains very attractive in Northern Ireland due to enhanced support for certain technologies under the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation scheme, the main incentive scheme to encourage renewables in the province. Biomass developments of this type will be an increasingly important part of the energy mix as we transition to a green economy."

Ian McLennan of Triple Point commented: "We are delighted to reach financial close on the first of our energy projects in Northern Ireland in association with Craigahulliar Energy and B9. The level of government support in Northern Ireland at 1 ROC/MWh has enabled developers and funders to commit to this market and build out projects in the province. We are delighted to be playing our part to ensure that this energy source is being utilised in Northern Ireland to help deliver on government targets."