Northern Ireland has published its ‘Path to Net Zero Energy’ Action Plan for 2024, outlining this years’ priority areas for reducing fossil fuels and becoming more self-sufficient in affordable renewable energy.

The ‘Path to Net Zero Energy’ Action Plan outlines some of the key actions being delivered as part of the Executive’s Energy Strategy – The Path to Net Zero Energy. Published in December 2021, the Energy Strategy plots the Department for the Economy’s route to ending the use of fossil fuels and becoming self-sufficient in affordable renewable energy.

The Action Plan outlines the legal and moral obligation to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and highlights the desire for Northern Ireland to become self-sufficient.

This 2024 Action Plan outlines five core strategic priorities, including:

• Replacing fossil fuels: reduce emissions from energy by replacing fossil fuels with indigenous renewables to decarbonise power, heat and transport.
• Improving energy efficiency: support consumers by focussing on energy efficiency and fuel poverty to reduce energy use and seek to reduce energy bills.
• Growing renewable energy: focus on the delivery of the Climate Change Act target, of least at 80% of electricity consumption from a diverse mix of renewable sources by 2030.
• Supporting the electricity grid: continue the delivery plan to update Grid Connection Charging Policy, consult on Smart Metering design and commission research into the costs and benefits of the Northern Ireland Consumer for different interconnection scenarios.
• Growing the green economy: Create an environment encouraging the creation of good jobs, investment, and growth of a skills base for the low carbon economy through innovation, support and focusing on competitive strengths.

In the Ministerial foreword, Minister of the Economy Conor Murphy, states:

“The innovative technology solutions needed to achieve net zero are also needed by our neighbours and indeed the rest of the world… My Department will play a leading role and will work across government, business, academia, and civil society as part of the collective effort required to achieve net zero.”

Helpful Resources

For more information and to view the ‘Path to Net Zero Energy’ Action Plan, please click the following link: https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/economy/Energy%20Strategy%20-%20Path%20to%20Net%20Zero%20Energy%202024%20Action%20Plan%20Report%20-%20Final%20%281%29.PDF

To view the launch video for the Action Plan, please click the following link: https://www.instagram.com/economy_ni/reel/C5GTse0vELg/