Ardglass harbour is reducing energy use

Ardglass harbour is reducing energy use

17 April 2024

ARDGLASS harbour is continuing the drive to go green and reduce its carbon footprint.

A new electric forklift truck has arrived at the harbour where the operations are powered by an array of 30km solar panels which supply electric to the cold stores, ice-making plant and offices.

Harbour master, James Lenaghan, said the entire management structure of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority is committed to being as environmentally friendly as possible.

He said the purchase of the electric-powered forklift is part of the organisation’s long term plan to ensure fisheries in Northern Ireland are sustainable. 

James also explained the array of solar panels, which were installed last autumn, are already reducing energy costs at the port. 

“Future plans to develop the port are likely to include proposals to tackle emissions from our fishing fleet in the long-term, while exports from Northern Irish fisheries exports are going to be increasingly seen as green sustainable produce,” he added.

Deputy harbour master, Chris Feenan, who demonstrated the new forklift last week, said it takes only two hours of sunshine to power the vehicle.

“This will keep us going for several days and even on the cloudiest of days we see a significant reduction in our power costs,” he added.

Downpatrick councillor, Cadogan Enright, has hailed the Ardglass harbour management or its long-term thinking in cost management and marketing strategy for fish landed in the village, with the arrival of their new all-electric forklift truck. 

A well-known environmentalist, Cllr Enright said the arrival of the truck is the latest in a string of innovative moves at the port with the new vehicle replacing an old diesel truck.

He said as a chartered accountant, with a background in the energy industry, he is constantly surprised at how slow both the private and public sectors are to make the move to cheaper renewable energy.  

“The Fishery Harbour Authority deserves great credit,” he continued.

“I have been pressing the Northern Ireland grid operator for a number of years to increase the capacity of the grid in the Downpatrick and Ardglass area where local fish processors and farmers have found it either impossible or unaffordable to get a connection to the grid for their renewable energy. 

“As a result of this restriction, the Fishery Harbour Authority has a non-export micro-grid agreement with NIE where all power must be consumed on site. 

“This is similar to other companies in our area and for renewable energy to really thrive in the Lecale area we need the grid to be upgraded so that organisations like the Authority can be paid for their surplus energy.”

Cllr Enright said the organisation deserves great credit in driving down its cost base by ‘going green’. 

He added: “The Authority is an example for the rest of the public sector in Northern Ireland as to what can be achieved through a well-thought-out ‘invest to save’ policy making business more financially sustainable in the long-term and, making our exports more attractive internationally by legitimately allowing us to be seen as a green low-carbon food producer.”