A five-year strategic plan revealed by RenewableNI will place Northern Ireland on a clear path towards securing a net zero system to meet UK 2035 targets.
The organisation represents NI’s renewable electricity industry and its ambitions include delivering the target of 80% renewables by 2030.
“Our strategic plan, Delivering Zero Carbon Strategic Plan 2023-2028, has been embraced by 60 companies and organisations who are directly involved in turning Northern Ireland away from fossil fuels and transitioning as quickly as possible to new renewables including solar and onshore and offshore wind resources,” said RenewableNI director Steven Agnew.
The high-level priorities contained in the plan include the introduction of a renewable electricity support scheme, ahead-of-time grid investment, reducing planning red-tape and an open collaboration among policy makers, lobby groups, developers and new technologies.
“Northern Ireland’s public policy and regulatory framework needs to meet the challenge of the climate emergency, maximise renewables contribution to meeting our decarbonisation targets and support the growth of our net zero economy,” said Agnew.
The strategic plan encompasses a call to action to achieve a future powered by clean energy through the adoption of 14 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At the heart of the RenewableNI strategy is a commitment to Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7) by ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; and Climate Action (SDG13) through urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.