Renewable energy project to create construction boom in Derry

Construction workers and firms in Derry are set to receive a boost once the building of a new renewable energy plant gets underway. Evermore Renewable Energy has revealed it has managed to secure the £80 million it needed to begin work on a wood-fuelled power station. This facility is set to be built at the Port and Harbour site at Lisahally in Derry. It is planned for the new plant to open in the summer of 2015, and once it is up and running it will create 20 new full-time positions. Meanwhile, in the course of the next two years, it is thought that as many as 200 construction jobs could be on the cards. Ciaran and Stephen Devine, the co-founders of Evermore, said: "We are making a serious commitment to the Northern Ireland energy market. Working with the best partners in technology, fuel supply and financing, we hope to show that Northern Ireland is a great place to do business so that further inward investment will follow. This is the culmination of many years of hard work to develop and finance the largest green energy power station in Northern Ireland." Once the new power plant is ready and working, it is estimated that it could help to increase the amount of renewable electricity generated in Northern Ireland by ten per cent. This could have a tremendous impact on the sector and the nation's economy. Brian McGrath, chief executive of Derry Port and Harbour Commissioners, added his support to the project. He explained that the organisation is happy to see the development come to the region and the location of the plant is key, as it means the delivery of industrial schemes continues to be strategic. The co-founders went on to suggest that the ability to attract such a level of investment to Derry is a reward for the company's skill and endeavour in recent times. They added that the construction phase is now ready to begin.