GE Energy Financial Services has bought the Barranafaddock wind farm development due for construction shortly near Ballyduff from Element Power.

Construction is due to get under way on the 34-megawatt wind farm in the summer and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.

The Ballyduff development is one of two acquired by GE Energy Financial Services from Element Power. The second one is the 17-megawatt Acres wind farm near Ballyshannon in Co Donegal.

Element Power will manage construction of both projects and will provide operatonal management services following completion of the wind farms.

Its unclear if the two projects will be affected by the news at the weekend that Britain has shelved plans to import wind energy power from Ireland. The power they’ll generate is planned for domestic use, to help Ireland meet its target of generating 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 but given that that target is more than double the percentage required by the European Union, it could be speculated that some part of the energy they create would be for export down the line.

The Avondhu recently highlighted the fact that a number of landowners involved in the development of the Barranafaddock wind farm are in dispute with Element Power over payments from option agreements. The landowners say they are also owed payments in relation to turbary rights. Element Power insisted all monies owed were paid and there are no outstanding issues. Its understood there was some discussions between the two parties on the matter in recent weeks but it hasn’t been resolved.

The Avondhu made enquiries this week to see if GE Energy Financial Services were aware of the disputed monies and if they, as the new owners, have any plans to meet with the landowners in question. There was no response to the queries raised at the time of going to press.