Rapid International Switches to Renewable Energy

Rapid International Ltd, are now the proud owners of a 500Kw, 47 metre high wind turbine which has been installed at their production facility in Tandragee, Co. Armagh. Offering a payback period of less than 6 years this wind turbine will create over 1 million units of electricity per annum more than 3 times the factory requirements.

The 47 metre high turbine will be used to generate power for the 40,000sq ft factory which produces capital machinery for the concrete, construction and environmental sectors. The excess electricity can be sold back to the licensed electricity suppliers.

This use of renewable technology will offset 430 tonnes of carbon per year, in line with the company’s objectives to be the first industrial manufacturers in Northern Ireland to become carbon neutral.  The turbine installation will mean Rapid can meet the challenge of increasing energy costs and savings will continue to ensure they remain competitive in the marketplace.

Rapid International has always been aware of manufacturing costs, in particular, electricity consumption. Back in 2006 the late managing director Bertie Pickering set the wheels in motion to purchase and install what we are now witnessing. Bertie was a great campaigner for renewable energy and protecting the environment, sadly he didn’t get to see the completion of this project.

Using renewable energy within the company itself has a link to the uses of the machinery the company produces. Rapid have supplied mobile mixing and mobile concrete batching plants to Wind Farm projects and Hydro-Dam construction.

Rapid International enlisted the services of “Horizon Renewables” Belfast to manage the entire turbine project from start to finish including foundations, installation, electrical and also a 5 year maintenance contract estimated to be worth over £500,000 to Horizon.

Ruth McQuigan, managing director, Horizon Renewables said: “We are delighted to work with Rapid International on the first and largest industrial installation that we have carried out in Northern Ireland.”

The Vestas V39 500Kw turbine will be eligible for the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) Scheme*.  The means that Rapid International’s technology can be used to generate revenue which has reduced the payback period significantly by selling their Roc’s to licensed suppliers across the U.K.

Congratulating Ruth McGuigan of Horizon Renewables on the excellent installation Mark Lappin, managing director, Rapid International said:  “We are delighted with the benefits the Wind Turbine will produce for the company and the positive environmental effect.”