Swann welcomes Rathlin Power Move
Mr Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Spokesman on Social Economy, Energy and Consumer Affairs, has “warmly welcomed” the announcement that Rathlin Island has been connected to the Northern Ireland Electricity grid for the first time.
And Mr Swann, who is also a senior member of North Antrim Association Management Committee, added that this power move meant the island “will now have a more reliable and secure energy supply”.
He said: “This connection is a more positive step made by Northern Ireland Electricity, compared to its recent announcement of a more than three per cent hike in its prices.
“Rathlin islanders in the past relied on three diesel-powered generators, which restricted the equipment the islanders were able to use as part of their daily lives.
“The island in the past had received additional electrical supplies from wind turbines, which are no longer in operational use.
“But this new NIE connection could actually provide a further blessing, not just for Rathlin itself, but across a substantial part of the Province.
“If the NIE connection is at a high enough electricity specification, and if the wind turbines were to be restored to fully operational status, there is an opportunity whereby the electricity generated by the turbines as a renewable energy source could be sold back to the NIE grid.
“This would give Rathlin an additional revenue stream as well as its current tourism potential. Taking Northern Ireland as a whole, it must not be forgotten that the Province is in a prime location on the north west corner of Europe to fully exploit both wind and tidal energy from the Atlantic sea board,” emphasised Mr Swann.