Committee on Climate Change

Northern Ireland’s Executive has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2025.  In May 2010 the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to a proposal by the Minister of the Environment to establish a cross departmental working group on greenhouse gas emissions and produce an agreed mitigation programme.

Northern Ireland currently has a number of policies in place to reduce emissions across a range of sources, including power generation, buildings and industry, transport, and agriculture.

Decarbonising power

Northern Ireland is making progress in developing its onshore and offshore renewable sectors.  As of December 2009, renewable electricity represented 8.5% of electricity consumption in Northern Ireland, with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) expecting to meet a 2012 target to generate 12% of electricity consumed from renewable sources.

A 2008 study found that it was technically feasible for 42% of power generation to be met from renewables and the latest (2010) Strategic Energy Framework confirms a target to generate 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Northern Ireland is also investigating the scope for developing offshore wind and marine renewables:

• A recent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) concluded that up to 900MW of offshore wind and 300MW of marine renewables capacity could be installed in Northern Ireland’s waters without significant adverse effects on the environment
• DETI has recently consulted on its Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan for 2009-2020.  It sets the framework for future rounds of commercial leasing by the Crown Estate and proposes that at least 600 MW of offshore wind and 300 MW tidal resources are developed in Northern Ireland waters by 2020
• An experimental turbine in the waters of Strangford Lough is so far successfully demonstrating tidal technology. The prototype tidal energy convertor which entered testing two years ago achieved its 1,000th hour of operation in March 2010. Over its operation, the 1.2MW turbine has so far achieved a capacity factor of 66% and delivered 800MWh into the national grid, making it the world’s first commercial scale project of its kind to generate to a national grid

Energy efficiency in buildings

The revised Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme commenced in April 2010. Whilst the scheme is primarily focused on alleviating fuel poverty (including 34% of total funding ring fenced for whole house measures), the scheme’s funding is also available for business customers. Funding for solar water heating and biomass boilers is also available. The scheme’s predecessor, the Energy Efficiency Levy, provided funding of just under £6m in 2008/09 which supported 21 projects resulting in carbon savings of around 149,000 tonnes.

Northern Ireland requires that new social housing meets the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, and as of April 2010 also offers rate relief on low and zero carbon new build homes.

Northern Ireland, as well has having a target to make the public sector estate carbon neutral by 2015, has set various energy efficiency and energy use targets for the public sector and reports against these each year. The latest annual report finds that while the target to source at least 10% of renewables has been overachieved (at 19%), progress towards energy efficiency and total carbon emissions targets must accelerate in the next few years to meet target deadlines.


Renewable Heat

The proposed Renewable Heat Incentive does not apply to Northern Ireland however DETI is currently investigating the costs and benefits of a similar incentive. The Strategic Energy Framework notes that DETI wishes to develop a specific heat target, and from work completed to date it appears that a 10% target could be achievable and a number of ways to stimulate this will be considered.

Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARDNI) in partnership with key agri-food stakeholders in Northern Ireland agreed the themes of a GHG Reduction Framework in March this year. With the overarching theme that more efficient farming lowers emissions, voluntary mitigation measures spanning nutrient, livestock, renewable energy and carbon sequestration are being developed and will be communicated to primary producers later this year.

Transport

The Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland has established a Transportation Policy Division to assist in the development of sustainable transport arrangements and contribute to work identifying and costing options to reduce emissions from transport. The outcome of this work will inform the current review of Northern Ireland’s Regional Transport Strategy (RTS). A revised RTS document is currently under public consultation and is aimed at tackling rising transport emissions through changing driver behaviour, modal shift and better journey planning.

The Department of Environment Climate Change web pages contain more information about the Executive’s work on climate change mitigation.