A partnership between Belfast County Council and renewable energy firm Renewable Power Systems to collect methane-rich biogas from the landfill site has been announced to create energy.

It is hoped the move could generate enough power to provide electricity for around 6,000 homes once the landfill electricity generating facility is up and running.

This is to be possible as the scheme is expected to produce around five million watts of electricity each hour.

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor, Tom Hartley, said: “The electricity-generating facility at Giant’s Park will be of enormous environmental and economic benefit to Belfast.

“It will help create a brighter, cleaner and greener future for the city by eliminating the escape of potentially harmful greenhouse gas.

“It will also add to the amount of ‘green’ electricity produced from a sustainable source.”

He added that the scheme will also boost the finances of the council, which in turn could benefit local residents.

Giant’s Park gets its name from the nearby Cavehill.

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