The Energy Strategy Action Plan 2025 (March 2025) which sets out a roadmap for 2025 to advance the transition towards secure, affordable and clean energy has been published by the Department for the Economy (DfE).

The key actions outlined by DfE in the Action Plan to be taken forward this year include:

• a consultation on the terms and conditions for the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme to enable the first auction in 2026;
• a support scheme design for future low carbon heat and energy efficiency in residential buildings;
• a smart meter design plan to enable an electricity grid ready to support delivery of the 80% renewable electricity target by 2030; and
• an all-of-Government approach to plan and deliver benefit at a local level through a community energy pathfinder project.

RenewableNI, the voice of the renewable electricity industry in Northern Ireland, welcomed the Action Plan and the Department for the Economy’s focus on driving forward the green agenda. Steven Agnew, Director, RenewableNI said,

“The latest Energy Strategy Action Plan aims to double the size of the renewables sector to deliver a turnover of more than £2 billion by 2030. This is only the beginning of our ambitions for a green economy but is fundamentally predicated on the support mechanisms promised within the timeframes – particularly to enable a pathway for offshore renewable energy which would deliver a further £2.4 billion alone*.

The creation of a Grid Development Monitoring Group is a welcome addition to help ensure grid development is in line with the 80% by 2030 target. A lack of grid capacity resulted in wind farms being turned off 30% of the time in 2024, when they could have been providing cheap, low carbon renewable electricity.

We eagerly await the final design of a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme support. The lack of timescale for the legislative programme is concerning as the scheme cannot proceed without it.  We already have already lost a decade, with investment going elsewhere, given we have been the only part of these islands without a scheme in place. We cannot risk any further delays without risking green growth opportunities.

Likewise, timelines around the revised Strategic Planning Policy Statement for renewable and low carbon energy has also slipped. Only five new wind farms have been connected in Northern Ireland this past decade. As a region, we need to be shoulder to shoulder with Great Britian’s planning reform for green energy and related infrastructure or opportunities will blow by us.

The triple threat of planning, a support mechanism and grid capacity, needs to be tackled or the 80 by 30 target is nothing more than a whisper in the wind.”

ENDS

*If our 80% renewable electricity target is achieved, onshore wind and solar will contribute approximately £3.1billion Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Northern Ireland economy. The impact of 1.5GW of offshore wind, i.e 2 – 3 projects, would add a further £2.4 billion GVA.

The Energy Strategy Action Plan 2025 – March 2025 can be viewed on the Department for the Economy website here.

RenewableNI is the voice of the renewable electricity industry.  Through the development of policy, best practice and public communications, we represent those engaged in wind, solar and battery storage development.  Our members make up a large majority of the renewable industry supply chain in Northern Ireland.