Progress on the horizon for Northern Ireland’s renewable sector but now is not the time for complacency

It is an exciting time for the renewables sector in Northern Ireland, with some highly anticipated policy progress due to appear on the horizon, writes Steven Agnew, Director of RenewableNI.

Perhaps chief among these is the publication of the final design of a new renewable electricity support scheme from the Department for the Economy, a scheme that once underway, will deliver affordable electricity for local consumers and mark a milestone in our journey to net zero.

As we await sight of the final design, something we hope to see sooner rather than later, we expect the scheme to begin in the second half of 2026. While that is later than many in the sector originally anticipated, the mood remains positive because a scheme like this, one that will derisk investment and show developers that Northern Ireland is open for business, is a big step in the right direction. It has the potential to usher in the next wave of renewables for the whole region, so we have got to get it right.

Elsewhere, in a step that could dismantle prohibitive barriers within our planning system, we expect to see a revised Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) from the Department for Infrastructure before long, with a focus on renewable and low carbon energy. This would be a very welcome move because as the situation stands, ambitious projects with the potential to drive Northern Ireland towards its green economy goals can wind up stuck in limbo for years at a time, with planning delays stifling renewable energy deployment. Meaningful change in the planning process could make a world of difference, freeing the sector up to move, sure-footed and at pace, towards the provision of cheaper, cleaner electricity. The existing set-up – which has seen just five new wind farms, totalling 110MW, connected over the past five years – cannot continue.

Another development we expect to make an impact is the outcome of the consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment as part of the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan which launched earlier this year. It is our firm hope that this piece of work will pave the way for offshore leasing by the end of 2026 and we can begin to reap the benefits. Our Clean Revolution report shows that if 1.5GW of offshore wind were installed by 2032, it could power up to 1.6 million homes, create more than 1,500 highly-skilled jobs and deliver up to 2.4 billion Gross Value Added while also offsetting 49 million tonnes of CO2.

Progress in these areas is vital – not least for consumers who stand to see bills fall as renewable energy provision improves – but now is not the time to feel complacent.

We continue to face significant infrastructure and grid challenges, particularly the delay to the North South Interconnector. This needs political intervention on both sides of the border to ensure it is completed at pace, otherwise the ‘80 by 30’ – 80 per cent renewables by 2030 target – is left blowing in the wind. Not to mention its absence is costing us all £55,000 per day on our bills.

The closer we get to the deadline, the more challenging it might seem. But it is not a take it or leave it situation, it is a statutory obligation. We need a whole-government approach to meet that commitment and to deliver the incredible benefits it will mean for the economy, the planet, and every one of us.

Steven Agnew is Director at RenewableNI, the voice of the renewable electricity industry in Northern Ireland.