Forest parks could be key in renewable sector drive

Forest parks could be key in renewable sector drive

12 March 2025

TWO of the district’s leading country parks could play key roles in the renewable electricity sector in the future.

Stormont’s Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched the so-called Forest Service Wind Energy Market Engagement initiative.

It is inviting wind energy developers to identify sites on the Forest Service estate, that are of greatest interest for future wind energy generation.

Included within the government department estate are Castlewellan and Tollymore forest parks.

Tollymore forest park stretches to almost 1,600 acres while Castlewellan forest park covers just over 1,100 acres.

DAERA minister, Andrew Muir, said the new opportunity recognises the potential for Forest Service forests to contribute to meeting the requirement for 80% electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030, as set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Launching the new initiative, Mr Muir said he recognises the significant potential for DAERA forests to contribute to Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity and climate change targets, while continuing to manage our forests sustainably. 

“This market engagement provides the opportunity for the renewable electricity sector to share its assessment of how the potential may be realised,” he explained.

“Input from the sector will greatly assist my Department’s analysis of, which forests on its estate have the greatest potential to contribute to future wind energy generation.”

Mr Muir said he looks forward to receiving the market responses and working with the sector towards achieving Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity commitments.”

DAERA manages over 185,000 acres of forest estate, which represents almost six per cent of Northern Ireland’s land area.

Construction Procurement & Delivery (CPD) is running this engagement exercise on behalf of the Forest Service and interested parties have to respond through the CPD eTendersNI portal by 3pm on March 31.

The portal is located at: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=5850812