Forecourt supermarket Nisa Islandbawn has become the first retailer in Northern Ireland to benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The RHI is designed to offer long-term financial incentives to businesses across Northern Ireland to encourage them to install renewable energy technologies to heat their properties.

It is estimated that Nisa Islandbawn, located on the Belfast Road, Co Antrim, will immediately save 72% on its energy bills and in future, the cost of heating and hot water for the business will be removed completely.

Store owner Paul Kirkpatrick said: "I had heard about the RHI and wanted to see if we could benefit from it. I was also aware that BS Holdings had launched an environmentally friendly heating system and was keen to explore this with a view of ’greening’ our heat supply."