The NI Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has announced nine offers of grant totalling £967,000 made under the DARD EU co-funded Biomass Processing Challenge Fund.

The grants will support the installation of biomass processing facilities to produce renewable energy on farms.

The fund provides capital support on eligible expenditure of up to 40%, to a ceiling of €400,000 per project.

The Minister said. "I am encouraged that the land-based sector has brought forward these projects and that we can offer financial support in these difficult economic times.

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"Improvements in farm business efficiency, competitiveness and greater energy security, through the processing of agricultural and forestry wastes and other biomass material are key components in all these projects. The projects, producing heat and or electricity, represent a total investment of over £3.4million and include installation of biomass boilers and anaerobic digesters on farms.

"We are now seeing delivery of the DARD Renewable Energy Action Plan. It aims to provide a framework which enables the sector to grasp the opportunities that renewable energy can offer.

"The success of the recent Renewable Energy Open Day at CAFRE highlighted that land users recognise the potential which renewable energy technology can bring to their business operations."

(CD/BMcC)