OREANDA-NEWS. SSE Renewables, Northern Ireland's leading renewable energy developer, this week hosted a wind farm Information Day for the repowering and extension of its Bessy Bell Wind Farm in Co. Tyrone.

The SSE Information Day took place in the Mellon Country Inn, Omagh. Residents living within a two miles radius of the proposed wind farm extension were invited to attend the event.

SSE is currently planning Bessy Bell Three, which is the repowering of the existing 14MW wind farm at Bessy Bell, as well as an extension to existing turbines at Bessy Bell Two.

The development will comprise 32.2MW(1) of newly installed wind power generation. Adding to the 9MW of existing turbines at Bessy Bell Two, this will result in the newly repowered and extended Bessy Bell Wind Farm generating a total of 41.2MW of green energy, enough to power around 35,000(2) homes when completed.

Bronagh Gormley, SSE Renewables Community Liaison Officer, commented:

“At SSE, we believe it is important to provide local communities with up-to-date information on our developments. That's why we're delighted to have hosted this Information Day for residents around our proposed Bessy Bell Wind Farm extension. It afforded an important and valuable opportunity for us and for the local residents who attended to engage further on our plans for Bessy Bell Wind Farm. We will hold further information events for local residents over the coming months as we progress our development plans for our Bessy Bell Wind Farm.”

Through the Bessy Bell project SSE Renewables will invest significantly into local enterprise during construction, creating jobs within the local economy.

Kerry Muldoon, SSE Renewables Northern Ireland Development Manager, said:

“SSE is committed to powering Northern Ireland's greener future and powering the local economy. Based on our experience of delivering five wind farms to date in Northern Ireland, SSE expects to see significant local economic benefit associated with the delivery of the Bessy Bell Repowering and Extension project. This includes significant investment in the local supply chain, sustaining local jobs and enterprise. We estimate we will spend around GBP 15million(3) of the expected GBP 51.5million Capital Expenditure associated with the project with local(4) supply chain businesses during construction, significantly supporting local jobs and enterprise in the region including the creation of around 125 construction phase jobs.”

SSE believes in supporting the communities in which it builds and operates its wind farms. Since 2006, SSE has proudly funded more than 200 projects in the communities around the Bin Mountain, Tappaghan and Bessy Bell wind farms, sharing out over GBP 350,000 to help with energy efficiency and sustainability projects.

As a result of the Bessy Bell repowering and extension community benefit payments for Bessy Bell Wind Farm will increase to around GBP 170,000 annually comprising the existing SSE Airtricity Community Fund and a new SSE Airtricity Regional Fund.

Overall SSE estimates that the newly repowered and extended 41.2MW Bessy Bell Wind Farm will contribute around GBP 430,000(5) annually in local authority rates payments, landowner rentals and community and regional funding, or around GBP 10.75million over a typical 25 year lifespan.

SSE has delivered five wind farms in Northern Ireland to date, including the 73MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park, Northern Ireland's largest wind farm outside Derry~Londonderry, which powers around 60,000(6) homes.