Backed by a consortium of three major companies in the agri-food industry, Rose Energy has put forward a project proposal to the government to build an bioenergy plant which will convert agricultural biomass into electricity.

The government has indicated its support in principle for the project, which will deliver up to a third of Northern Ireland's renewable energy obligations.

The power plant, which will be based near Glenavy in County Antrim, will represent a trendsetting example of sustainable electricity generation in Northern Ireland.

Thanks to leading-edge technology, the plant will use renewable fuel - poultry bedding and meat and bone meal - to provide enough energy to power 25,000 homes.

Rose Energy, backed by poultry processing companies Moy Park and O'Kane Poultry and Glenfarm Holdings, says it aims to become a major local supplier of renewable energy.