The Alliance Party is calling for serious questions to be answered after an Audit Office report revealed owners of some renewable technologies were being paid "excessive subsidies" from people's electricity bills.

The report showed those who own standalone turbines and anaerobic digesters get higher payments than those in Great Britain. It stated while they accounted for small amounts of power, they attracted a higher proportion of the available subsidy, saying "the financial return for some investors may have been more generous than it needed to be".

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Alliance MLA John Blair said: "There is no doubt renewable energy is key in tackling rising greenhouse gas emissions, reducing air pollution and otherwise protecting our environment. But serious questions need asked and answered following this report.

"We need to be clear if repeat mistakes were made regarding this scheme, particularly given the Audit Office’s findings of excessive subsidies being paid. Given our past experiences with schemes, however well-intentioned, costing the taxpayer more than they should have, an investigation needs to take place, with the Assembly's Public Accounts Committee well placed to do so."