Northern Ireland lags behind GB in support for small-scale renewable energy

6 January 2010

Small-scale renewable energy schemes could create hundreds of green-collar jobs in Northern Ireland if Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster matched the level of support available to homes and businesses in Britain, Friends of the Earth claimed today. 

The environmental pressure group is calling on Mrs Foster to mirror the level of support that will be introduced in GB in April when a Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff is launched there.  The scheme in England, Scotland and Wales provides an incentive to householders, businesses and community groups to invest in small-scale renewables, such as wind turbines and solar panels, by guaranteeing the price they receive for electricity they sell back to the grid.

Friends of the Earth Campaigner Andrew McMurray commented:  

"Small-scale green energy systems such as solar panels on homes and businesses, and community-owned wind turbines could play a crucial role in cutting our emissions and speeding us towards the development of a low-carbon economy."

Friends of the Earth estimates that the support mechanism proposed by the Stormont administration will result in less than 1% of all electricity here coming from small-scale renewables, compared with the 2% target adopted in GB.  The environmental pressure group claims that a Northern Ireland scheme which matched the level of support available in Britain would boost the renewable energy sector here, as Mr McMurray explained:

"The Assembly's proposals are far too weak compared to those in GB, putting at risk our vibrant and growing renewable energy business sector, especially when competing on these unequal terms with renewable energy businesses in England, Scotland and Wales."

"A guaranteed price for electricity sold to the grid would allow homes, businesses and communities to play their part in tackling climate change, increasing energy security and creating hundreds of new green jobs here in Northern Ireland."

Mr McMurray concluded:

"Northern Ireland's renewable energy potential is enormous. As the world prepares for crucial climate talks in Copenhagen, the Stormont administration must show that it is taking this issue seriously and improve its plans to pay people for generating their own clean, green power."