Debate contribution: Green Energy Transition

Debate contribution by Mr Gary Middleton on 24 March 2025.

MLA

Mr Gary Middleton

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

24 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Green Energy Transition

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4865235

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members for tabling the motion. I am, however, disappointed that they will not support the DUP amendment. A thread runs through our amendment that is about making sure that a just transition is affordable for local communities. In speaking to the motion and our amendment, I will highlight four broad issues. The first is the upscaling of renewable energy production. We can all embrace a greener and more sustainable economy. Such an economy can create jobs, increase prosperity and lead to stronger and healthier communities while protecting our natural environment. We are in favour of building on the work of DUP Ministers Dodds and Lyons and their 10X Economy vision. Sixty per cent of our manufacturing companies sell into the green economy, generating £1·5 billion in turnover. It is undeniable that reducing emissions will create significant economic opportunities for Northern Ireland. Of course, as we seek to upscale renewable energy production, we must also protect customers from cost shocks. That is reflected in the Programme for Government and is crucial for several interconnected reasons, not least of which are ensuring energy affordability and equity, maintaining public support for energy transition and facilitating a just transition. The second area that I will highlight is ineffective renewable energy infrastructure and planning policy, which act as barriers. In our amendment, we note:

"renewable energy generation has increased significantly since 2013".

Significant progress has been made over the past decade, and that should be celebrated. Our maritime and offshore wind supply chain is evolving. We have ports that are in ideal locations to be bases for offshore energy projects, and Northern Ireland is home to the only dedicated purpose-built port facility for offshore renewables on the island. In 2024, 81·7% of all renewable electricity that was generated in Northern Ireland was generated from wind. In the past year, 43·5% of the electricity that was consumed in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources. Increasing that figure to 80% in the next five years will require significant investment in our infrastructure. As we seek to do that, we must ensure that we respect our local environment, our landscape and areas of natural beauty and heritage, such as the Giant's Causeway. In our amendment, we highlight the fact of:

"the absence of proposals to support the cost of a just transition".

As we transition to a greener economy, we must ensure that ratepayers do not suffer and that those who can least afford it are not expected to pay more. As we go forward, we must do so in a way that is fair to all. Affordability should be a chief concern, given the fact that the cost of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades will be shared in Northern Ireland by a population of 1·9 million, which the Consumer Council has shown has an average household discretionary income that is 41% below the UK average. The third area that I will highlight is the introduction of a new renewable energy support scheme. We support the calls for the Minister for the Economy:

"to introduce a new renewable energy support scheme to upscale onshore and offshore renewable energy production".

However, we believe that financial assistance should be provided to increase energy efficiency and small-scale energy generation by businesses and households. The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has suggested:

"The establishment of a simplified grant system, which streamlines the funding application processes would make it easier for individuals and businesses, to access support for energy-saving technologies".

We believe that that should be explored. A report that was compiled by KPMG warned:

"Stakeholders unanimously agreed that the current lack of a Government sponsored support scheme for renewables has halted the growth trajectory of renewables deployment."

Again, that is something that the Minister should address. The final area relates to cooperation with the Minister for Infrastructure in order to reform planning. There is no doubt that delays in the Planning Service and in the processing of planning applications contribute further to the delay in our decarbonisation. Many of the applications are for developments that would improve our environment and reduce our emissions, but as those decisions continue to be delayed so too does our just transition. Our amendment adds to the motion, strengthens it and encourages the Minister and all Departments to place an onus on ensuring that customers, consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland are not adversely impacted on as we move towards a greener economy.

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

Assessment

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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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