Welcome to the Energy Website
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Draft Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has launched a statutory consultation on a draft Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan which aims to maximise the amount of renewable electricity generated from onshore renewable sources in order to enhance diversity and security of supply, reduce carbon emissions, contribute to the 40% renewable electricity target by 2020 and beyond and develop business and employment opportunities for Northern Ireland companies.
This draft Plan has been the subject of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which has considered the potential effects of such developments on the environment in Northern Ireland. The findings of the SEA are documented in an Environmental Report and Non-Technical Summary.
All responses to this consultation should be submitted by 20 January 2012.
The consultation document and associated environmental documents can be obtained by clicking on the link below:
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Proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO)
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has launched a statutory consultation on proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) and other changes on which views are being sought. The proposals to amend ROC banding levels will come into operation on 1 April 2013.
All responses to this consultation should be submitted by 19 January 2012.
The consultation document can be obtained by clicking on the link below:
This consultation is closely linked to the consultation on changes to the Renewables Obligation being undertaken by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The RO consultation document can be accessed at this link: www.decc.gov.uk
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Suppliers NIRO Obligation level for 2012/13 is 0.081 ROCs per MWh of electricity supplied
Article 12(4) of the Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 ("the NIRO Order") requires the Department to publish the level of a forthcoming Obligation Period by 1st October preceding that Obligation Period.
The calculation process set out in Articles 5 to 12 of the NIRO Order has now been completed and in accordance with Article 12(4), the Department can today confirm that the Obligation level for supplies to customers in Northern Ireland for the period running from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013 will be 0.081 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour) supplied.
The Obligation level for England, Scotland and Wales has been set at 0.158 ROCs per MWh for the same period.
Full details of how the Obligation level is calculated are available on the DECC website.
Notes
The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) is the main support mechanism for encouraging increased renewable electricity generation in Northern Ireland. It operates in tandem with the Renewables Obligations in Great Britain - the 'ROS' in Scotland and the 'RO' in England & Wales - in a UK-wide market for Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) issued to generators under the Obligations. The NIRO, like the GB Obligations, obliges electricity suppliers to produce a certain number of these ROCs for each Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity which they supply to their customers in Northern Ireland or to pay a Buy-Out fee that is proportionate to any shortfall in the number of ROCs being so presented.
With the introduction of 'banding' to all three UK Obligations from April 2009 the number of ROCs due to be presented can vary from the specific proportion of electricity sales that had hitherto been fixed for each year as the supplier's obligation. This is because the number of ROCs issued to generators for each MWh of electricity now varies according to the banding of their particular technology or renewable energy source and because the Obligation level must be set at a level that is at least 10% above the projected number of ROCs that will be available in that particular year
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Regional Locational Guidance (RLG) for Offshore Renewable Energy Developments in NI Waters
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INFORMATION EVENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE CONSULTATION
DETI is now offering the opportunity to attend an information event for stakeholders in order to gather early views on the proposals.
The information event will be in in DETI offices at the following times:
- Thursday 8 September 2011 @ 10.30am - 12.30pm (FULL)
- Thursday 8 September 2011 @ 2.00pm - 4.00pm (FULL)
Both information events are fully booked. However, if you are still interested in attending such an event, there may be a potential further session scheduled dependent on numbers interested. You can register your interest at ni.rhi@detini.gov.uk
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CONSULTATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE
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CONSULTATION ON INTRODUCING NEW ELECTRICITY LEGISLATION TO NORTHERN IRELAND
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CONSULTATION ON THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTENDING THE NATURAL GAS NETWORK IN NORTHERN IRELAND
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has launched a statutory consultation on the potential for extending the natural gas network in Northern Ireland. This consultation seeks views of stakeholders on how the natural gas network in Northern Ireland might be extended.
All responses to this consultation should be submitted by 30 September 2011 to gasextension@detini.gov.uk
The Consultation document can be obtained by clicking on the link below:
Consultation document on potential for Extending Natural Gas Network in NI.
This Consultation has been informed by a 2010 feasibility study “Potential Extension of Natural Gas and Related Services in Northern Ireland” which was jointly commissioned by the Department and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation. To view the executive summary of the study Click Executive Summary of the Natural Gas Feasibility Study
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DETI amendment to the 2011 Energy Bill – Impact Assessment on Primary Powers
DETI Energy Division has been working with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in Great Britain to secure an amendment to the 2011 Energy Bill in relation to renewable heat. This amendment, if successful, will provide DETI with powers similar to those contained in the 2008 Energy Act (Section 100) which underpins the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in Great Britain. Links to the aforementioned pieces of legislation are provided below.
Section 100 of the Energy Act 2008
In order for this amendment to be tabled DETI has carried out a high-level impact assessment on the potential introduction of a Northern Ireland RHI. DETI expect to launch a public consultation on the introduction of incentive measures for renewable heat in the Summer.
Northern Ireland RHI Impact Assesment
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Common Arrangements for Gas Consultation Document 2011
Common Arrangements for Gas Consultation-Responses
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Decision paper on the legislative proposals to implement the Third EU Energy Package in Northern Ireland
Third EU Energy Package Decision Paper
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Renewable heat study
Executive summary-renewable heat study
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Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
In exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 52 to 52F and Article 66(3) of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, the Department has made a Statutory Rule entitled The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011.
The Renewables Obligation Amendment Order Northern Ireland 2011
The Statutory Rule, which came into effect on 1 April 2011, amends The Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and implements a number of further changes to the NIRO from 1 April 2011.
The latest changes to the NIRO include increasing the support currently offered for electricity generated from anaerobic digestion, introducing higher ROC levels for generators adding additional generating capacity, the introduction of a regulatory requirement for wind and photovoltaic microgenerators to use Microgeneration Certification Scheme approved technology and installers and also the introduction of mandatory sustainablility criteria for Biomass and Bioliquids sustainability reporting to meet the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
The NIRO operates alongside similar Obligations in Great Britain and the Statutory Rule reflects a number of changes also being made to the corresponding legislation in Great Britain.
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Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan 2009-2020 and Strategic Environmental Assessment
DETI has published (14 December 2009) for consultation until 8 March 2010 a draft Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan. The draft plan along with associated strategic environmental assessment is available on a dedicated website Offshore Energy Responses can be made to this website or to
Sandra McMillan,Sustainable Energy,Department of Enterprise,Trade & Investment,Netherleigh,Massey Avenue,Belfast,BT4 2JP
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Reconnect
The Reconnect household renewable energy programme was funded under the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund, a direct rule initiative, which closed to applications on 31 March 2008
The total budget provision available for Reconnect was originally £8 million which was later increased to £10.8 million. The total number of installations supported under the scheme was 4,168 with solar hot water and wood fuelled boilers being the most popular technologies
The Department has carried out an evaluation of Reconnect against all its objectives and this will have to be fully considered before making any decisions on possible future schemes and will need to take into account wider UK wide support available, proposed actions to meet EU Directives, changing market conditions, value for money and the effect on competitiveness.
