Environment & Climate
Northern Ireland hits record 53% renewable electricity generation
Wind power drove a new high in green energy generation for the year ending in June, advancing progress toward the region's 2030 target.
The short version
- Renewables generated a record 53% of Northern Ireland's electricity in the 12 months leading up to June.
- Wind power supplied 74% of the green energy, with renewable output consistently surpassing non-renewable output since January.
- The region aims to reach 80% renewable electricity by 2030 despite ongoing challenges with grid capacity and turbine curtailment.
Key facts
- Renewable sources supplied 53% of Northern Ireland's electricity in the year to June, surpassing the prior record of 51% reached in 2022.[BBC News]
- Wind generation accounted for 74% of total renewable electricity, followed by bioenergy at 18%, solar at 6%, and landfill gas and hydro or tidal power at 1% each.[BBC News]
- Factoring in imported electricity, the renewable share equaled the previous peak of 50% recorded in 2022–2023.[BBC News]
- Northern Ireland has a statutory goal to generate 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.[BBC News]
- Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald stated that increasing renewable power will help protect households and businesses from fossil fuel price volatility.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- The pace at which grid infrastructure can expand to reduce high rates of turbine curtailment, which occur when transmission limits cannot handle renewable supply surges.[BBC News]
Sources
- Renewable energy in NI reaches record levelBBC News - Science & Environment