Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs Minister has announced the launch of
the Forest Service Wind Energy Market Engagement with the
renewable electricity sector.
The market engagement invites wind energy developers to identify
those sites on the Forest Service estate, that are of greatest
interest for future wind energy generation.
This opportunity recognises the potential for Forest Service
forests to contribute to meeting the requirement for 80%
electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030, as set
out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Welcoming the launch Minister Muir said: “I recognise the
significant potential for DAERA forests to contribute to Northern
Ireland's renewable electricity and climate change targets, while
continuing to manage our forests sustainably. This market
engagement provides the opportunity for the renewable electricity
sector to share its assessment of how the potential may be
realised.
“Input from the sector will greatly assist my
Department's analysis of, which forests on its estate have the
greatest potential to contribute to future wind energy
generation. I look forward to receiving the market responses and
working with the sector towards achieving Northern Ireland's
renewable electricity commitments.”
Construction Procurement & Delivery (CPD) is running this
engagement exercise on behalf of the Forest Service.
Interest parties are invited to respond through the CPD
eTendersNI portal by 3pm on 31 March 2025. The portal is located
at: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=5850812
Notes to editors:
- Forest Service is an Executive Agency delivering forestry and
plant health functions on behalf of the Department of
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The Agency
manages approximately 75,000 hectares of forest estate, which
represents almost 6% of Northern Ireland land area.
- The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 commits the
Department for the Economy to ensure that at least 80% of
electricity consumption is from renewable sources by 2030.
- Respondents can contact the eTendersNI helpdesk on
08002404545 or via email to ni-eproc-helpdesk@eurodyn.com for
assistance
