Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, has officially switched–on the new hydro electricity power generator at All Children's Integrated Primary School in Newcastle.

The new system has the capacity to generate enough electricity to power 10 primary schools and was funded by the Department of Finance and Personnel under Central Energy Efficiency Fund, which is now closed. All Children's Integrated Primary School will not only benefit from the power supply and from the revenue generated by selling excess supply back to the grid, it will also reduce its Carbon Reduction Commitment payments and the cost of buying Renewable Obligations Certificates.

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Mr Wilson said: "I am always keen to see Northern Ireland make the most of its natural resources. Combined with saving money and acting as an education resource, projects such as this hydro scheme become really worthwhile and justify the £420,000 of funding provided by my Department.

"The project has been a long time in delivery, but considering the value of the electricity it will produce, the saving on fuel costs and the revenue it should generate, it should be a real asset to the school.

"Importantly the system can also be used to educate young people about energy, particularly about this way of generating power, so that the next generation will appreciate the diversity of ways in which power is generated. Investing in this hydro electricity power generator will assist the school in having a secure and less expensive supply of energy, hopefully long into the future."

(CD/MH)