Debate contribution: Energy Strategy
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 16 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Energy Strategy
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5623971
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her question. I am pleased to say that we are making sustained and measurable progress in delivering against the energy strategy. There is a clear focus on removing barriers, enabling investment to come in and accelerating the transition to cleaner, more secure energy. My Department has been driving forward a programme of delivery across electricity, heat and energy efficiency. One example of that is our fairer grid connections policy, which delivers fundamental reform of how electricity connection charging operates. By removing the unfair upfront reinforcement costs, we make it easier and more affordable for homes and businesses to connect to the grid, particularly in rural areas and parts of the network where capacity is more limited. Those new arrangements are due to come into effect on 1 July. Alongside that, we are determined to see progress on other measures, including those relating to low-carbon heat. We have a plan to redeploy any residual renewable heat incentive (RHI) annually managed expenditure (AME) funding following the closure of the scheme to support a biomethane support scheme. That has now been agreed in principle with the Treasury, subject, obviously, to the detailed development and approval of a business case. I want to see the development of a biomethane sector that works towards delivering decarbonisation but is also environmentally sustainable and, crucially, works for local energy consumers. We have strong indigenous biomethane potential and opportunities to support decarbonisation, energy security and our rural economy. We are working closely with DAERA on the development of a coordinated biomethane policy framework that will go out for consultation later in the year. Together, all those actions, alongside others, will then be —.
280 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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