Northern Ireland is considering an ambitious target of 40% renewables sourced electricity by 2020.
The current target is for 12% renewable electricity by 2012 and according to Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the country is well on track to meet that benchmark.
Minister Foster says the amount of electricity being produced from renewable energy sources has almost trebled in the last five years and now nearly 10% of all electricity produced in Northern Ireland comes from renewables.
The blueprint document, "Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland – 2010", states that electricity generated by onshore wind farms is the most established, large-scale source of renewable energy in Northern Ireland and that wind farms will play a vital role in meeting the new renewable electricity target. Offshore wind, biomass and geothermal energy will also play a role.
Aside from the environmental aspect, energy security is a concern for Northern Ireland as the country’s position on the western periphery of Europe with few fossil fuel resources had created a near 100% dependence on imports to meet its energy needs. Under the current status quo, increasing amounts of fossil fuels would need to be sourced from even further afield in years to come.
Minister Foster says she also recognises the important contribution that renewable heat can make to Northern Ireland’s sustainability and is eager to explore the option.
The new policy document is not a fixed or prescriptive document but aims to set the direction of travel for the next decade and beyond and commit to a series of key actions aimed at moving strategic energy policy in Northern Ireland forward.
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