Consultation
RES believes in meaningful and effective consultation with the local community and key stakeholders on our projects in order to facilitate constructive consultation.
In September 2021 we held an online public exhibition for the proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm. The online exhibition was designed to inform the local community about the proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm and gather people’s views. The video below provided an introduction to the exhibition.
Information about the proposed Unshinagh Wind Farm is provided below, together with details on how to submit comments to RES on the proposal. Hard copies of the information below is available on request. Please contact us for more information.
The closing date for comments to RES was 3rd February 2022. You may still submit comments on the proposal, however, they may not be taken in account as the design is refined and finalised. Please contact us to make a comment or for further information.
About the project
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Located approximately 4km west of Carnlough. The Environmental Impact Assessment is nearing completion and we continue to consult with relevant statutory bodies, organisations and the local community. Results of the site surveys and feedback received, to date, through our consultation process has been used to inform the detailed design of the proposed wind farm and will be reported in the Environmental Statement which will accompany the planning application. |
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Designed to generate reliable, renewable electricity, whilst minimising local impacts and maximising local benefits wherever possible. Capable of generating up to 58.8 megawatts (MW) of clean, green, low-cost renewable electricity. Equivalent to the electricity usage of around 70,0001 homes each year. |
Design Layout and Infrastructure
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The plan in the centre shows the layout of the proposed fourteen 180m turbines at Unshinagh. |
Click on image to enlarge |
In addition to high-level necessities, such as good wind speeds, we have considered a number of site-specific constraints and buffers. These include turbines being positioned greater than 1km from nearest properties, 50m from major watercourses and 10m from minor watercourses/drains and avoiding areas of ecological interest. |
Environmental Considerations
| An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is being undertaken to investigate any significant potential effects of the development on the environment and, where applicable, identify mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce potential effects. |  |
The EIA will include assessment of the following:
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Supply Chain Opportunities
| RES has a strong track-record of working closely with the local supply chain around its projects and maximising inward investment opportunities wherever possible. Unshinagh Wind Farm has the potential to deliver approximately £3.9 million to the local area in the form of jobs, employment, and the use of local services. RES is keen to hear from local businesses who are interested in learning more about the opportunities associated with the construction and operation of this project. Please contact us for more information. |
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During the construction of Castlecraig Wind Farm, near Drumquin, over £3 million of inward investment was realised into the local economy. The wind farm construction also provided employment for around 50 local people. The construction of Altaveedan Wind Farm, near Loughguile, was an economic success for the local area with £1.3 million invested directly into County Antrim and £772,000 of this being spent within 5 miles of the site. The direct investment in the local economy was achieved through RES contracting with County Antrim based firms such as P. Keenan & Sons and F.P. McCann, coupled with utilising Northern Ireland’s home-grown civil engineering expertise William & Henry Alexander (Civil Engineering) Limited. |
What Would the Wind Farm Look Like?
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We have produced indicative visualisations and wirelines to help give an impression of what the wind farm could look like from different viewpoints in the area. Click on the links to view. |
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Viewpoint from Straidkilly Road, Carnlough
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Why Wind?
| Urgent need to accelerate decarbonisation. Tackling Climate Change by supporting the UK’s target of net zero by 2050. Enables us to generate our own electricity without reliance on imports. |
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Not subject to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets. Renewable energy at lowest cost to the consumer2. Free and inexhaustible resource which has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. |
Please note that any comments submitted to RES are not representations to the determining authority (Strategic Planning Directorate Department for Infrastructure (DFI)). There will be an opportunity to submit representations to the determining authority should an application be made.
1 The homes figure has been calculated by taking the predicted annual electricity generation (based on an indicative layout and subject to change) of the site (based on RES assessments Unshinagh has a predicted capacity factor of 49.9%) and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that the annual UK average domestic household consumption is 3,578 kWh (Dec 2020).