A leading local renewable energy firm is celebrating the submission of its 50th planning application, marking the surging growth of the renewable energy sector in Northern Ireland.

Air Core, a Belfast-based company specializing in wind power development, ultimately plans to invest approximately £60 million in developing 100 medium scale wind turbine sites across N. Ireland.

Brendan Boyd, Managing Director of Air Core, said that the planned investment would have the dual benefit of driving down prices for consumers in the long term as well as offering local farmers and landowners a great opportunity to diversify their income stream.

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"Within our firm, we have decades of experience in the construction industry and the planning process, so those who we partner with know that we can deliver what we say we can. Professionalism is at the heart of what we do and we’re taking bold steps to ensure that Northern Ireland leads the rest of the UK in showing the potential economic and social benefits of the burgeoning green economy.

"The sites, located across Northern Ireland, were carefully selected through exhaustive impact studies on nearly 600 sites and Air Core are continually growing this shortlist to find appropriate development opportunities. The anticipated supply upon completion of the project would provide enough power for 14,000 homes across Northern Ireland."

Over 40% of Europe's potential wind energy blows over the UK and Ireland, making it a prime area for investment in wind energy technology. In 2010, the NI Executive committed to a target that for 40 per cent of Northern Ireland’s electricity would be supplied by renewable energy.