RenewableNI, the voice of the renewable electricity, responded this week to the Northern Ireland Executive’s Draft Programme for Government 2024-2027 ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’.
The response has highlighted the continued need for an ambitious whole-of-government approach that can revitalise the renewable energy agenda and achieve the renewable electricity target of 80 per cent by 2030 (80 by 30) and, ultimately, net zero, as mandated in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
RenewableNI was disappointed to see that the climate emergency was not included as one of the proposed nine priorities. RenewableNI acknowledges that the NI Executive has many competing priorities, but the climate emergency represents Northern Ireland’s most complex existential crisis, and tackling this deserves a place as a top government priority, with the resources, time and focus which such designation would afford.
Renewable energy is recognised in the draft Programme for Government document as crucial to ensure self-sufficiency and affordability. It represents a solution to the climate emergency, and RenewableNI would, therefore, propose that accelerating renewable deployment to deliver 80 by 30 and meet net zero sit within the delivery scope of this priority.
With the publication of the draft Programme for Government, the Executive is setting the direction of travel for the rest of its mandate. RenewableNI sees this as a critical juncture in the energy transition to bring a renewed focus to delivering our renewable energy and climate targets. In light of the markedly ambitious and positive clean energy policies adopted by the new UK government, RenewableNI would similarly call for the Executive to set a target of zero carbon power by 2035, to give confidence that 80 by 30 is a staging post and not the end goal in the energy transition.
Recent statistics show that for the 12-month period from July 2023 to June 2024, 45.8 per cent of total electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources. This indicates that instead of seeing a period of bold acceleration, renewable deployment in NI is stalling. Issues such as a lack of market support scheme, persistent planning delays, restrictive planning policy and a not-fit-for-purpose grid are challenging but can be overcome.
Key points in the RenewableNI draft Programme for Government response:
- The 80 by 30 target has helped to galvanise stakeholders across the renewable electricity and wider energy industry. The draft Programme for Government document doesn’t reference this target, with the result that investor confidence is undermined. The finalised version must foreground 80 by 30 and making clear the NI Executive’s support and commitment to achieving the target.
- RenewableNI is encouraged to see facilitating net zero infrastructure set as an aim and welcomes both the Electricity Grid Connection Charging Policy and funding through a Net Zero Accelerator Fund. However, nothing short of commitment to an overhaul of planning policy and process will deliver the substantive change required so that renewable energy projects and grid infrastructure can be developed at speed and at scale.
- Although the NI Energy Strategy has set a target of 1GW of offshore wind from 2030, there is still much that could be done within the NI Executive’s current mandate (2024-2027) to progress this target. The draft Programme for Government should commit to doing all within its remit to enabling a thriving offshore wind industry in Northern Ireland including NI Executive working with the Department for the Economy and the Crown Estate to reduce uncertainty around timelines for a leasing round and delivering a robust route to market to unlock the major investment.
- RenewableNI welcomes news that a Just Transition Commission is to be established soon but would call for a clear timeline for delivery. RenewableNI is committed to securing acceptance from the many energy transition stakeholders and buy-in from the communities hosting essential renewable energy infrastructure are key features underpinning any future successful and just transition.
- RenewableNI has been calling for the Utility Regulator to be given the legal mandate to target net zero like its GB counterpart, Ofgem. Such powers may come in future legislation, but RenewableNI would propose that this legislation be advanced and prioritised in this Programme for Government, so that the regulator is empowered to play a fuller role in enabling a thriving local renewable industry.
Despite the challenges, coordinated and ambitious action can still deliver a credible pathway to meeting 80 by 30. RenewableNI restates its position that the Programme for Government must include tackling the climate emergency (and thereby achieving net zero) as a foremost and cross-cutting priority for the Executive during its mandate.
