What benefits will the development of renewables bring to rural Northern Ireland?
1121. Mr Biermann: Through recent technological developments, particularly in the downsizing of generating units, rural renewables have become quite feasible and economic. Biomass could provide an income stream for farmers by offering them a new crop to produce. Building wind turbines on farmland would generate rents, and there would be income from operational maintenance. National Power, which is now Innogy Windpower, estimates that a 30-megawatt wind farm generates about 200,000 per annum for a community. There are benefits for rural communities, although I cannot say how large such benefits would be. 1122. Another benefit would be security of supply. Recently, Scotland suffered severe storms. Had Scotland had more localised generation instead of having to rely on long, easily damaged transmission lines, electricity supplies would have been restored faster and much discomfort could have been avoided.
