Debate contribution: Green Energy Transition

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 24 March 2025.

MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

24 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Green Energy Transition

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4865215

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move

I am deeply concerned about Northern Ireland's renewable energy future. While the Programme for Government (PFG) commits to upscaling renewables production, the reality is that we are failing to act with the urgency required. At our current rate, we will not reach net zero until 2118. Scotland is installing renewable electricity capacity at 33 times our rate, and our share of renewable electricity has declined since 2022. That is why we cannot support the DUP amendment. Progress has, of course, been made, but the pace of change has contributed to rising costs. Our inability to match the pace of our neighbours puts us at a disadvantage and forces our people to bear the burden of government inaction. Our pace of change is not just disappointing but a failure of leadership, planning and investment. It puts our climate targets at risk, keeps us dependent on expensive fossil fuels and costs us jobs and investment. The biggest barrier to progress — our outdated planning policy and weak infrastructure — must be tackled urgently. That is why the motion calls for a renewable energy support scheme. The Assembly should support planning reform. In 2022, 51% of our electricity demand was met by renewables, but that fell to 45% last year. Instead of scaling up, we are moving backwards. Developers face long planning delays, an outdated grid and uncertainty about investment and support. As a result, investors are looking elsewhere and key projects are stalling. Companies such as North Channel Wind, ERG-Evolving Energies and RenewableNI want to drive us towards net zero, but their calls are being ignored. If we do not act now, we will miss our target of 80% renewables by 2030, which we are legally bound to achieve. Unlike Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland still lacks a dedicated renewable energy support scheme. That has left us at a competitive disadvantage. We need a structured, long-term support mechanism that encourages the production of onshore and offshore wind energy, solar energy and battery storage to create a stable, low-cost energy system. The transition to renewables is not just about climate targets but about economic opportunity. The north-west, with its rich wind and tidal resources, should be leading the way. Offshore wind in the North Channel, the tidal energy along the Donegal coastline and solar expansion in rural areas would create a thriving renewables hub. For example, investing in the infrastructure at Lisahally port, expanding supply chain capabilities and supporting the Magee campus and the North West Regional College (NWRC) to train the workforce of the future would establish Derry as a key player in the green economy. It is a chance to reverse years of economic neglect. Meanwhile, planning remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress. Wind and solar projects are stuck in the system for years, while offshore development is held back by outdated policies and bureaucracy. The Department for the Economy and the Department for Infrastructure must work together to streamline approvals and ensure clear timelines for projects. The System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) has repeatedly warned that the current developer-led grid approach is inefficient and costly. We need a plan-led system that expands grid capacity proactively rather than reactively. A key part of that is the urgent need for the second North/South interconnector, which remains stalled and may not be completed until 2031. That delay is unacceptable and risks having a devastating effect on our energy security.

Of course, planning reform must be done responsibly with consideration being given to local communities, but we cannot let endless red tape hold back progress. The people of Northern Ireland are behind us. Only 5% of those who were polled in Derry oppose the 80% renewables target, while 72% believe that their council is not doing enough to promote renewables.

One party in the Assembly controls the Infrastructure, Finance and Economy portfolios. It has the power to make real change, yet we have seen no delivery on an energy support scheme since the Northern Ireland renewables obligation (NIRO) collapsed in 2017, no significant grade upgrades, which has led to the excessive curtailment of wind energy, and we have a planning system that is slower than it was a decade ago. The SDLP —.

The SDLP is committed to a greener and more prosperous future. The longer that we wait, the more opportunities that we will lose.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:13 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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