Wind energy to meet N Ireland's "challenging" targets

Northern Ireland currently produces around six per cent of its electricity from indigenous renewable energy sources and is committed to sourcing 12 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2012 and 40 per cent by 2020.

In a keynote speech at the Irish Wind Energy Association's (IWEA) first workshop in Belfast, this week, Northern Ireland Environment Minister Edwin Poots stressed the province’s commitment to renewable energy in the fight against climate change and said wind was the key to meeting its targets.

“I am firmly committed to supporting the wind industry and all other renewable energy technologies so that together we can meet our commitments to tackle climate change,” said the Minister. “I am fully aware that more needs to be achieved over the next 10 years if we are to meet the 40 per cent target of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2020 set out in the Draft Strategic Energy Framework.

"While other renewable energy technologies will play an increasingly important role, I believe it is the mature technology of wind energy that will provide the most significant contribution toward the achievement of this target.”

A new report by Deloitte for the IWEA states that Northern Ireland’s wind energy sector could attract up to £2 billion of investment over the next decade, with a potential for 1,300 to be created in the province over the next few years.

Renewable electricity consumption in the province, particularly from wind, has grown by 60 per cent since 2005 and there are currently 19 wind farms across Northern Ireland with a total capacity of 240 megawatts.

Poots also explained to workshop delegates that the Department of Environment’s new planning policy for renewable energy – Planning Policy Statement 18 (PPS18) – which provides policy and guidance on renewable energy sources, was designed to assist the growth of the overall renewable sector.

He explained: “I believe firmly that PPS 18 strikes the right balance between protection of our valuable natural heritage and preservation of the amenity of rural dwellers, whilst at the same time ensuring that the necessary renewable energy infrastructure is put in place to allow us to meet our renewable energy targets.”