North Down has a striking new landmark, with installation of a 55 metre tall, 800KW wind turbine at the edge of Balloo Wood, Bangor.

North Down Borough Council has erected the turbine to provide green energy for its new waste management facilities at Balloo.

Testing and commissioning took place earlier this month, and it is anticipated that the turbine will be operational by August.

Mayor of North Down, Leslie Cree, has welcomed the new addition to Bangor's skyline.

Alderman Cree said: "North Down Borough Council is thinking big when it comes to sustainability issues and at 54 metres tall our new wind turbine is a striking testimony to this.

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"Harnessing wind power in this way is obviously beneficial to the environment but it will also save the Council £150,000 a year off our energy bill, which is good news for all ratepayers.

"With electricity costs due to rise by another 30% the arrival of the turbine could not have been better timed."

The turbine stands 55m high from base to hub, with blades that are 48m in diameter and 22.5m long.

It has an electricity output of 800KW, enough power to meet the electricity needs of 300 large homes.

The project cost £1.1m to purchase and install. The council received a grant from central government to cover half this amount.

The main work of the turbine is to power the council's new waste management facilities.

However, any surplus power will be used to offset the council's overall electricity bill, estimated to save the council £150,000 annually.

Councillor Anne Wilson, who proposed the construction of the wind turbine, said: "I am very pleased that Council has been able to deliver this exciting new facility for North Down.

"While the weather this week has provided a poor start to the summer holidays, it has also shown that Northern Ireland offers superb wind resources and is particularly suited to producing energy from this renewable source."

(PR/JM)