Menu
25/03/2010
Renewable Energy Legislation Welcomed
Fresh legislation is set to enhance renewable electricity generation across NI.
Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the Northern Ireland Assembly's support for changes to the Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (NI).
It was passed by the Assembly in late March and will come into operation on 1 April. Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation, (NIRO) has been a successful incentive mechanism for renewable energy and this Order provides further support for renewable electricity generation.
"The enhanced support, being provided from 1 April, will help the small-scale renewables sector flourish and provide a market for renewables businesses here," she said.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change in Great Britain is also introducing a feed-in tariff for small-scale renewables from April.
Noting the calls for a similar scheme in Northern Ireland, the Minister said: "This enhanced support for small-scale generators will go a long way to bridging any perceived gap with the feed-in tariff in Britain.
"It will provide a real opportunity for small-scale developers, householders and communities to make the move to renewable electricity generation.
"I have worked hard to ensure that the renewables sector here is not disadvantaged and that is why I have introduced equivalent support under the NIRO.
"I want to look at the relative costs and benefits of both a small-scale feed-in tariff scheme, and the NIRO, to ensure that future support best meets the needs of developers, but also consumers, in Northern Ireland."
Among other technical changes, the Order will provide increased support for new small-scale installations accredited after 1 April.
Onshore wind projects under 250kW will receive four NIROCs per MWh (equivalent to around 18p per kWh), this is an increase from two NIROCs per MWh. Solar photovoltaics between 0 and 50kW will receive four NIROCs per MWh (equivalent to around 18p per kWh), this is an increase from two NIROCs per MWh.
Finally, hydro stations between 0 and 1MW will receive between two and four NIROCs per MWh (equivalent to between 9p and 18p per kWh).
In addition, landfill gas will be uprated to receive one Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) per MWh in line with an announcement earlier this year.
The Minister concluded: "This is a positive change which is tailored to the needs of the Northern Ireland energy industry and it demonstrates how NIRO is working for the benefit of Northern Ireland."
(BMcC/GK)
Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the Northern Ireland Assembly's support for changes to the Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (NI).
It was passed by the Assembly in late March and will come into operation on 1 April. Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation, (NIRO) has been a successful incentive mechanism for renewable energy and this Order provides further support for renewable electricity generation.
"The enhanced support, being provided from 1 April, will help the small-scale renewables sector flourish and provide a market for renewables businesses here," she said.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change in Great Britain is also introducing a feed-in tariff for small-scale renewables from April.
Noting the calls for a similar scheme in Northern Ireland, the Minister said: "This enhanced support for small-scale generators will go a long way to bridging any perceived gap with the feed-in tariff in Britain.
"It will provide a real opportunity for small-scale developers, householders and communities to make the move to renewable electricity generation.
"I have worked hard to ensure that the renewables sector here is not disadvantaged and that is why I have introduced equivalent support under the NIRO.
"I want to look at the relative costs and benefits of both a small-scale feed-in tariff scheme, and the NIRO, to ensure that future support best meets the needs of developers, but also consumers, in Northern Ireland."
Among other technical changes, the Order will provide increased support for new small-scale installations accredited after 1 April.
Onshore wind projects under 250kW will receive four NIROCs per MWh (equivalent to around 18p per kWh), this is an increase from two NIROCs per MWh. Solar photovoltaics between 0 and 50kW will receive four NIROCs per MWh (equivalent to around 18p per kWh), this is an increase from two NIROCs per MWh.
Finally, hydro stations between 0 and 1MW will receive between two and four NIROCs per MWh (equivalent to between 9p and 18p per kWh).
In addition, landfill gas will be uprated to receive one Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) per MWh in line with an announcement earlier this year.
The Minister concluded: "This is a positive change which is tailored to the needs of the Northern Ireland energy industry and it demonstrates how NIRO is working for the benefit of Northern Ireland."
(BMcC/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
20 December 2012
NI Tops UK Worries Poll For Money And Families
People in the Northern Ireland are more concerned about money than anywhere else in the country according to Samaritans' annual worries survey 2012. An exclusive YouGov poll for Samaritans shows that 66 per cent of Northern Irish people placed worries about money in their top five, and 17 per cent above the UK average.
NI Tops UK Worries Poll For Money And Families
People in the Northern Ireland are more concerned about money than anywhere else in the country according to Samaritans' annual worries survey 2012. An exclusive YouGov poll for Samaritans shows that 66 per cent of Northern Irish people placed worries about money in their top five, and 17 per cent above the UK average.
11 August 2022
UUP Welcomes Commitment To Energy Bill Support Scheme
The Ulster Unionist Party has welcomed a renewed commitment from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that equivalent support under the energy bills support scheme will be delivered to households in Northern Ireland East Belfast MLA and Communities Spokesperson, Andy Allen, said: "Since the energy bills support scheme was announced by the then Chancello
UUP Welcomes Commitment To Energy Bill Support Scheme
The Ulster Unionist Party has welcomed a renewed commitment from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that equivalent support under the energy bills support scheme will be delivered to households in Northern Ireland East Belfast MLA and Communities Spokesperson, Andy Allen, said: "Since the energy bills support scheme was announced by the then Chancello
27 May 2022
Finance Minister To Ensure Energy Payments Are Made In NI
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, has said that he is committed to working with Treasury to ensure the Energy Bills Support Scheme will provide assistance to citizens here given the absence of an Executive.
Finance Minister To Ensure Energy Payments Are Made In NI
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, has said that he is committed to working with Treasury to ensure the Energy Bills Support Scheme will provide assistance to citizens here given the absence of an Executive.
22 September 2022
Census 2021 Records NI's Largest Ever Population
The latest census data has revealed NI's largest ever resident population of 1,903,175 on census day, 21 March 2021. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has today published the first raft of statistics from the census collected last year.
Census 2021 Records NI's Largest Ever Population
The latest census data has revealed NI's largest ever resident population of 1,903,175 on census day, 21 March 2021. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has today published the first raft of statistics from the census collected last year.
14 November 2003
DARD issues guidance on farm 'benchmarking'
A DARD booklet, ‘ Benchmarking Farm Performance in 2002/03’ aims to meet the growing demand for reliable data which farmers can use to assess the current performance of their farm businesses.
DARD issues guidance on farm 'benchmarking'
A DARD booklet, ‘ Benchmarking Farm Performance in 2002/03’ aims to meet the growing demand for reliable data which farmers can use to assess the current performance of their farm businesses.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
