Alliance Enterprise spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has said that the Executive must do more to help grow the renewable energy sector.

His comments follow the announcement by Evermore Renewable Energy that they have secured £81 million to build a biomass fuelled power plant at the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners land at Lisahally.

The plant will power 25,000 homes and will increase the amount of renewable energy produced in Northern Ireland by 10%. It will become fully operational by 2015.

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Mr Lunn MLA said: "There is a lot of potential for renewable energy production in Northern Ireland, from wind, tidal, wave and biomass sources. While I welcome the announcement of this new biomass fuelled power plant, I believe that there is much more that the Executive could do to support this sector.

"The Scottish Government have realised the environmental and economic benefits of embracing green energy. In 2011, 35% of their electricity came from renewable energy sources and over 11,000 people were employed in this sector.

"We must see similar support from our Executive if we are to meet our target of 40% of our electricity being sourced from renewable energy by 2020."

(CD/MH)