New figures from the Department for the Economy show that renewable sources accounted for just 43.1% of Northern Ireland's electricity generation in the year to June, a decline from the 51% record set in 2022.

The Renewable Electricity Generation Report indicates that onshore wind made up 81.7% of the total 3,123GWh of renewable generation.

Judith Rance, of RenewableNI, explained that while quarterly figures naturally fluctuate due to the weather, the overall trend is downward because "few new projects are being developed." She warned that the industry is "now suffering from a lack of confidence" and has stagnated while other regions "are powering ahead."

-- Advertisement --

Rance highlighted that Northern Ireland has an obligation to reach 80% renewable electricity by 2030, a goal set in the Climate Act. She noted that to meet this target, generation needs to "more than double" to keep up with the demands of the electrification of heat and transport.

RenewableNI recently held a seminar on the need for long-duration energy storage (LDES), which would help reduce high levels of "dispatch down," where excess electricity is discarded. LDES technology is already available in Northern Ireland, but policy and procurement frameworks are "failing to keep up".

Rance concluded that every new renewable project connected to the grid brings down costs for consumers, provides energy security, and reduces carbon emissions, and urged elected representatives to address the inaction.