Renewable Energy Scheme Saves £31m

A scheme to delivery 100% renewable energy to all NI government buildings has resulted in savings of £31 million, the Department of Finance has announced.

Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD), within the Department of Finance, is responsible for the procurement of the two-year contract and worked collaboratively with the Department for the Economy (DfE) and the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) to deliver the significant savings. DfE and SIB fund an Energy Management Unit which delivers Energy Management services, aimed at reducing energy consumption and costs across central government.

Welcoming the savings, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: "This contract shows how procurement can be a key lever in the transition to a Green Economy. Government is a significant energy user and this move to 100% renewable electricity will help the Executive meet its carbon reduction targets as well as producing financial savings which can be reinvested in public services."

Government Departments and more than 50 organisations will benefit from the multi-million pound savings on metered electricity costs for all properties. The new approach follows daily electricity prices, taking advantage of any fall in the price of electricity and gives the Department greater flexibility to minimise the risk of potential price increases.

Department for the Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, said: "I am very pleased that this contract, and the significant financial and energy savings it will generate, was made possible by collaboration between DfE, SIB and CPD. By providing expert advice on energy matters, we were able to ensure that not only will these government buildings be powered efficiently, but also that they will contribute to Northern Ireland’s use of renewable energy. My Department is currently developing a wider Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland in which renewables will play a major role both now and into the future, and this project will help to ensure the public sector plays its part in making that vision a reality."

The majority of the savings will be most noticeable across Government Departments as well as the Education Authority, Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Further education colleges and universities will also see substantial savings.