Northern Ireland has met its target for 40% of electricity consumption from renewables sources by 2020 ahead of schedule.

The statistical report 'Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation in Northern Ireland: Year Ending June 2019', published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), confirms that 44% of all electricity consumed for the 12 month period ending 30 June 2019 was generated from renewables.

Commenting on the report Department for the Economy Permanent Secretary Noel Lavery said: "This is a momentous achievement which has been accomplished by the collective efforts of a number of key stakeholders over a sustained period, and I am grateful for the considerable contribution of all the players in the renewable electricity industry, the investors and operators small and large, SONI, NIE Networks, Invest NI, the Utility Regulator and Ofgem.

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"The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) has been the main policy driver to encourage increased levels of renewable generation, delivering an increase in the proportion of renewable electricity consumption from around 3% when it was introduced in April 2005, to over 40% in 2019.

"The success of the NIRO means that we now have a diverse energy mix which has strengthened our security of supply, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lowered prices within the Single Electricity Market and delivered economic benefits including inward investment and jobs creation."

Looking to the future, Mr Lavery stated: "We recognise that achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will require us to move significantly beyond 40%, and this is something that is being considered as part of the development of a new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland."

(MH/JG)