The System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) has appointed Involve, the UK's leading public participation charity, to lead a new programme aimed at strengthening community engagement as the region’s electricity grid is upgraded and expanded to meet future energy demands.

The move marks a significant step in SONI's efforts to ensure that local communities play a central role in shaping the development of Northern Ireland’s electricity infrastructure as part of the wider transition to a net zero power system by 2050.

As the Electricity Transmission System Operator for Northern Ireland, SONI is responsible for matching electricity supply and demand in real time and for long-term grid planning. With the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy setting ambitious targets for 2030 and beyond, SONI, alongside NIE Networks, must prepare the grid for a much greater integration of renewable energy sources.

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This includes upgrading existing infrastructure and building new grid networks in areas where capacity is currently insufficient. SONI has made clear that meaningful engagement with communities affected by these developments is essential to the success of the energy transition.

In 2023, SONI published a revised Public Engagement Model, identifying "broadening public participation" as a core strategic goal. The appointment of Involve is a key part of delivering on that goal. The charity will act as an independent facilitator of community forums, enabling residents to engage more deeply in grid development decisions than traditional consultation methods typically allow.

Heather Henry-Wilson, SONI's Senior Communications and Engagement Lead, said: "As SONI work to develop the grid to deliver a cleaner energy future, we want to hear from local people, beyond civic voices and local interest groups, to ensure that ordinary citizens have a voice in decisions that will impact the area in which they live.

"By introducing more deliberative methods of engagement into our grid development processes, our teams can better understand the concerns of local communities at the earliest stages, helping to build trust with those who live closest to new infrastructure which can in turn contribute to positive and timely planning outcomes.

"Host communities should feel that they have meaningful opportunities to engage with our teams now and into the future to help refine grid development plans."