Smart Solutions Needed To Boost Renewable Energy

Northern Ireland has grown the energy supplied by renewables to 45%, yet we are not on track to meet the target of 80% and net zero by 2030. While world leaders are sitting around the tables in Sharm El-Sheikh at COP27 we are faced with dealing with our own energy needs and managing the future.

The reality is that progress has been made, but we lag behind the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain by four years on how we install, progress and manage renewable energy.

The majority of the current ‘green’ energy comes from wind, and being on the north and westerly edge of Europe we are in the right place to capitalise on that. Yet, the barriers to installing further wind farms, or even individual turbines, remain significant.

Many existing turbines will need to be replaced with higher output units and managing the existing turbines has become a critical issue. While we have developed innovative management software for wind and solar-based energy generation and consumption it is clear that there is a need to marry the policy targets and the economic benefits of renewables.

On the island of Ireland there remain large manufacturing and engineering sectors. They are energy intensive, and surging costs are placing pressure on existing and future investment. If we do not push ahead with real action, we will potentially lose competitiveness and not capitalise on our potential.

As we look at the forthcoming Climate Action Plan being published at the end of this year, we all need to look at the right investment, the right structures and the right technology otherwise the plan will not succeed.

At Everun, as part of our management and delivery of wind and solar energy generating assets, we developed software to monitor and manage the output to increase efficiency, reduce down-time and look at the overall energy consumption. We know there is an increasing hunger from businesses and investors to be part of the renewable future but Northern Ireland is not moving fast enough.

From planning issues to modernising the existing grid, there are many barriers that, whilst difficult, can be overcome if the will is there at local and regional governmental levels to implement smart solutions.

Industry wide there needs to be significant investment into the energy grid and planning services.

Everything we’re trying to achieve here in Northern Ireland in the renewables sector stems from the Climate Bill which set the 80% target. Having taken that first step there has to be political will and leadership to deliver the action plans required to meet the target.

I believe that with will and a dynamic approach in the public and private sectors we can look to a brighter, cleaner future. A future in which Northern Ireland can – and indeed must – be energy selfsufficient. We can look forward to a point in time when we can export energy. But we must act now.