Northern Ireland's renewable electricity consumption has grown by 60% since 2005. Speaking at the Irish Wind Energy Association's (IWEA) Autumn Conference in Belfast, Energy Minister Arlene Foster stressed that renewable energy development continues to be at the forefront of her agenda and outlined the progress made to date in Northern Ireland in increasing the levels of electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
Ms Foster said, "With 99% dependence on imports to meet our energy needs, renewable energy is an imperative for Northern Ireland to enhance security of supply, help protect against the price volatility of fossil fuels and to meet EU targets. The good news is Northern Ireland has some enviable natural resources, in particular wind, and it is encouraging that we now have 19 windfarms. As a result, around 6% of our electricity consumption is from renewable sources, a growth of some 60% over the past three years."
While wind will remain the prime renewable source of electricity generation for the foreseeable future in Northern Ireland, proposed targets for 2020 contained in Proposal COM(2008)19, on energy from renewable sources set out provisions to maximise and develop all renewable technologies. Commenting on the Proposal, Ms Foster said, "With the implementation of the new Directive, and the challenging targets being set by it, we are certainly entering a new energy era - an era that will bring as many challenges as it does opportunities. We, in Government, have a responsibility for policy in the renewable energy sector and implementing the Directive. We also need industry to take advantage of the opportunities available and address the challenges so together we can help provide for a more sustainable Northern Ireland."
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