Updated stats and fund size Jan 2021
Location
Rathsherry Wind Farm is located off the Longmore Road in the townland of Rathsherry, outside Broughshane in County Antrim. This 21.15MW wind farm consists of nine Enercon E82 turbines and has been operational since 2018.
Community benefit fund
The Rathsherry community benefit fund is administered by the Community Foundation Northern Ireland on behalf of Energia and offers funding to community groups operating within a six-mile radius of the wind farm.
Last year, the Foundation awarded grants to 12 different community projects, including the Dojo Juniors. This mixed martial arts charity received £2,500 to pay for ju-jitsu training and equipment costs.
David Toney, who manages The Dojo martial arts centre in Ballymena, says, “The Dojo Juniors are unbelievably grateful to Rathsherry Community Benefit Fund for supporting our project. Much of our work has been restricted over the last year and this funding has helped keep our outreach work going."
Working with schools
It’s breath-taking to see a wind turbine up close. The Energia Renewables Operations team are happy to facilitate school visits or classroom talks on wind energy:
Generating renewable hydrogen
Energia has been granted planning consent for a renewable hydrogen production compound with a 4MW electrolyser on Rathsherry Wind Farm. This will be our second hydrogen development, following on from our 1MW electrolyser pilot project at Long Mountain Windfarm, near Rasharkin, which is funded by Interreg North West Europe and forms part of the GenCommm programme (GENerating energy secure COMMunities through Smart Renewable Hydrogen).
The aim is to produce a sustainable energy solution for heat, power and fuel through electrolysis, using water from a borehole on site.
Rathsherry Wind Farm will be able to produce green hydrogen through wind generation, which would normally be curtailed during periods of low electricity demand.
The proposed development will be located beside the existing Rathsherry substation with access via the wind farm main entrance. The fenced compound will comprise a transformer and seven container units - similar in size and appearance to shipping containers.
We are at an early stage of development and will ensure residents are kept updated and informed before any construction work takes place on site.
If you have any questions about our operational wind farms, development sites, battery storage facilities or renewable energy projects, please contact our Community Liaison Officers by email at clo@energia.ie, or phone +44 (0)78804 32201.
