13 November 2006
MINISTER OPENS WOOD ENERGY VISITORS' CENTRE
Energy Minister, Maria Eagle has opened a unique renewable energy visitors' centre. It is based at Brook Hall Estate on the outskirts of Londonderry, and managed by Rural Generation Ltd.
Brook Hall Estate is recognised as a "Centre of Excellence" demonstrating wood fuel in a range of applications. The use of wood pellet room heaters and a wood fuelled boiler system to heat the visitors' centre will demonstrate the effective use of wood as a fuel for space and water heating.
The new Wood Energy Visitors' Centre, which consists of a 52 seat conference room with full audio visual system and an attached office which accommodates 10 staff, will extend the range of services offered on site to include displays and presentations on wood energy, pellets and other energy crops from biomass.
Welcoming the establishment of the new Visitor Centre, the Minister said: "The potential for environmental issues to alter the economic outlook of the world is fast becoming a stark reality for us all. Developing sustainable energy is vital to our economic, environmental and social wellbeing, and is fundamental to our future sustained growth and prosperity.
"Projects like this Visitors' Centre have a vital role to play in showcasing throughout Northern Ireland and beyond what renewable energy can do to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels."
Commending the work being undertaken by Rural Generation, and all involved in the vital area of renewable energy development, Minister Eagle continued: "Development of the renewable energy market offers many benefits through new skills, innovation, increased enterprise and a contribution towards the alleviation of fuel poverty.
"Northern Ireland has been blessed with a very broad range of natural energy resources, and we can and will use those resources to their fullest potential to benefit our economy and our environment."
John Gilliland, Chairman of Rural Generation Ltd and Managing Partner of Brook Hall Estate, said: "I have been involved in developing a biomass industry in Northern Ireland for over 10 years. The market is now developing rapidly as a result of rising fossil fuel prices and concerns about climate change. The time is right to assist in the promotion of wood energy and this Visitors' Centre will provide another opportunity to display the benefits of wood energy".
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Climate Change and Energy is one of 6 priorities in the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Strategy published in May 2006.
The Secretary of State has committed to placing sustainable development policy at the heart of Northern Ireland Government and integrating Sustainable Development into policy and investment decisions.
Northern Ireland's energy policy places demand reduction and the development of renewable energy sources at its heart.
In February 2006 the Secretary of State launched the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund, a £59.2m funding package available to support action
Cross border co-operation on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures are key priorities under the All Island Energy Market Development Framework announced in November 2004.
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