Debate contribution: Energy Market

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew McMurray on 11 June 2024.

MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

11 June 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Energy Market

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4496062

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Green energy production is a key Alliance policy, and it is one that I am driven to speak on in the Chamber and will seek to progress during my time in the Assembly. Energy is central to all our lives — that is a given — but, as obvious as it seems, we cannot rely on a finite resource to supply our energy needs into the future. We need sustainable forms of energy, not just for ourselves but for our children, our environment and our planet. To do that, we must remove ourselves from the old fossil-fuel based ways of energy production. Northern Ireland can and should be an ambitious world leader in energy efficient, clean and net zero technologies. Indeed, as one economist put it, what Saudi Arabia is to oil production, Ireland has the potential to be to offshore wind energy production. We are an island nation, and we have many industries that are built upon engineering and getting to sea. We are also adept at developing and maintaining industries that are based at sea. We need to see a focus from the Assembly to assist us in that regard. By working alongside established industries and further and higher education institutions, there will not just be a reduction of emissions, which will be of benefit, but an upskilling of our workforce and development of our economy. I thank my colleague for highlighting that. Unfortunately, we also have to deal with the legacy of a failed renewable energy scheme that has seen, albeit understandably, institutional reticence to support new schemes focused on renewable energies. While I accept that there is an element of renewables being developed because it is the right thing to do, the brass tacks of it are that financial incentives are needed in order to expedite the development of renewable energies. Quite simply, the costs are prohibitive to many who want to make that change. I appreciate that the Minister for the Economy is in the Chamber. Ultimately, there has to be empowerment at the front of this. I appreciate the statement that the Minister has put on record and the work that officials in his Department have already put in. However, it requires action and direction, which a strategy will provide. As with so many issues, though, that requires cross-departmental thinking and actions if we are to see demonstrable solutions and changes in the sector. All Departments should be accountable for meeting net zero targets and facilitating the transition to renewable energy. That requires focus and direction. As such, it should be a central function within the Executive to ensure that each Department is meeting required targets. That will require a governance framework to be put in place. It is not just Departments that need to work together. The planners, energy producers and network operators need to be working together on this. These are large issues that affect the whole of Northern Ireland and will require a desire and strategic approach from the Assembly. Points have been made, all of which I concur with, but I just want to put into practical terms how this affects my constituency of South Down. South Down does not have the infrastructure to take on renewable energy sources. Indeed, as one engineer put it to me, if the go button were to be pushed on developing renewable energy in South Down, it would be four to five years between the process starting and getting renewable sources of energy production up and running. Likewise, there are projects and solutions in my constituency that cannot get operational as there is not the infrastructure. That needs to be addressed in any forthcoming strategy. As such, it must be reiterated that cross-departmental working must be to the fore in order to achieve a transition to cleaner energy. There are solutions — solar farms, wind turbines, potential for off-shore development and battery storage solutions — but all those need the grid infrastructure to support them, and, at the moment, that is lacking. I am happy to support the motion and look forward to working to see it progressed.

684 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:44 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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