A five-year strategic plan revealed by RenewableNI will place Northern Ireland on a clear path towards securing a net zero system to meet UK 2035 targets. This is the message from the organisation which represents NI’s renewable electricity industry and whose ambitions include delivering the local target of 80% renewables by 2030.

“Our strategic plan, Delivering Zero Carbon Strategic Plan 2023-2028, has been embraced by 60 companies and organisations who are directly involved in turning Northern Ireland away from fossil fuels and transitioning as quickly as possible to new renewables including solar and onshore and offshore wind resources,” says RenewableNI Director Steven Agnew.

The high-level priorities contained in the Delivering Zero Carbon plan include:

• the introduction of a renewable electricity support scheme,
• ahead of time grid investment,
• a facilitative planning system, and
• an open collaboration among policy makers, lobby groups, developers and new technologies.

Other high-level priorities are cited under four key pillars of the strategy which include the net zero system, shaping public policy infrastructure, supporting members to thrive, lead and innovate and to continue growing RenewableNI as a sustainable, trusted organisation.

“Northern Ireland’s public policy and regulatory framework needs to meet the challenge of the climate emergency, maximise renewables contribution to meeting our decarbonisation targets and support the growth of our net zero economy,” says Mr Agnew.

The strategic plan encompasses a call to action to achieve a future powered by clean energy through the adoption of 14 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At the heart of the RenewableNI strategy is a commitment to Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7) by ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; and Climate Action (SDG13) through urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Steven Agnew concluded:

“Increasing Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity to 80 per cent by 2030, and then achieving a net zero electricity system by 2035 is better for the NI economy, it will save consumers money, provide energy security and ensure our children live in a cleaner, greener world.  We know together we can achieve this!”

Delivering Zero Carbon

You can read a copy of Delivering Zero Carbon here.

ENDS.

For media inquiries please contact Judith Rance, Communications and Events Manager, RenewableNI, Judith.Rance@RenewableNI.com, 07875-681-794.  

Notes to editors

• RenewableNI represents 60 member companies and organisations who are working together to generate 80% of Northern Ireland’s electricity needs through renewable projects by 2030.
• Led by former NI Green Party leader and MLA Steven Agnew, the membership organisation is an effective policy influencer which seeks to urgently enable the development of renewable electricity projects.
• RenewableNI partners with Wind Energy Ireland and Renewable UK to provide a conduit for knowledge exchange and sharing best practice to enhance the far-reaching benefits of the renewable electricity sector.
• A copy of Delivering Zero Carbon Strategic Plan 2023-2028 is available at https://renewableni.com/DeliveringZeroCarbon
• Caption Left to right: Eóin Tennyson, Alliance MLA, John Blair, Alliance MLA, Michelle McIlveen, DUP MLA, Danny Donnelly, Alliance MLA, Steven Agnew, Director RenewableNI, Philip McGuigan, Sinn Féin MLA, Paul Carson, RenewableNI deputy Chair and Managing Director Strategic Power Projects, Jonathan Buckley, DUP MLA, and Andrew Muir, Alliance MLA