Northern Ireland’s Energy Strategy: The Path to Net Zero Energy

The Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland (“the Energy Strategy”) was launched by the Northern Ireland Executive on 16 December 2021. The Energy Strategy sets out a roadmap to achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency by 2050 as part of wider action to address climate change. Today, we have begun to see the impact of this much-needed strategy, as the Executive released its Action Plan for the Path to Net Zero, which details 22 actions that will be taken to reduce energy emissions in 2022.

The Energy Strategy sets out two targets to drive these changes:

1. Energy Efficiency: Deliver energy savings of 25% from buildings and industry by 2030; and
2. Renewables: Meet at least 70% of electricity consumption from a diverse mix of renewable sources by 2030. This figure currently stands at 42%,

The Energy Strategy also focus on Green Energy. Currently energy accounts for almost 60% of Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Strategy aims to:

• Reduce energy-related emissions by 56% by 2030 relative to 1990 levels in line with the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) Carbon Budge Energy;
• Grow Northern Ireland’s economy and supporting the 10X Economic Vision;
• Double the size of Northern Ireland’s low carbon and renewable energy economy to more than £2bn turnover;
• Bring together the skills, technologies and behaviours needed to advance the vision of net zero carbon and affordable energy by 2050.

This investment endeavours to ensure money spent on energy remains in the local economy creating wealth and jobs.

The Energy Strategy will be monitored on an annual basis with the first progress report covering the period ending March 2023. A major strategic update review will take place every 5 years.

The strategy has been widely welcomed by the energy sector across Northern Ireland. Stephen Cross, Director in Cleaver Fulton Rankin’s Energy and Renewables team, commented:  “The publication of the Energy Strategy is a welcome development, addressing Northern Ireland’s transition to net zero. In support of this, the much anticipated 22-point Action Plan for the Path to Net Zero Energy was launched on 20 January 2022, outlining the actions that will be taken forward during 2022 to address energy-related emissions. This is an integral part of the overall strategy, delivering short term action plans to ensure the energy strategy is implemented over the long term. The action plan outlines key objectives which will further inform and support key stakeholders in the journey to address climate change.”

This article has been produced for general information purposes and further advice should be sought from a professional advisor. Please contact our Energy and Renewables team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin for further advice or information.

---