May 2007

€48m ESBIE Deal will tap into greener energy

A subsidiary of the ESB, ESB independent Energy (ESBIE) has signed a €48m deal with the SWS Group to all the power output from a 22.5MW wind farm being built by SWS at Knockawarriga, Limerick.
The 15 year contract will commence towards the end of 2007 and will supply enough electricity to power 13,000 homes in addition to saving over 50,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, ESB independent Energy said last night.
The latest purchase follows a €36.7m contract with Renewable Energy Systems to buy the out nput of 7.8MW Lough Hill wind farm in CO Tyrone, signed last year.
Colm de Burca, Business Development Manager at ESBIE said his company supplies 70GWh of renewable generated power to Irish companies and this contract with SWS group will enable it to double its supply of renewable energy by end of 2008.
ESBIE has recently announced major contract wins with the Dublin Port Tunnel, Croke Park, Tesco, BT, Superquinn and the Department of Finance.
SWS group specialises in the renewable energy business with operations focused on three primary sectors – wind energy, bioenergy and forestry.

For further information please contact:

John Conlon
ESB Independent Energy
Tel: 01 8867343
Mobile: 0871246779