Northern Ireland prepares to relaunch renewables push with new support scheme

Northern Ireland aims to generate 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, but progress has stalled in recent years. While half of its electricity already comes from renewables, no current schemes exist to drive further installation — a gap the upcoming Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) hopes to close.

Modelled on a Contracts for Difference structure, RESS will invite developers to bid in auctions to build projects across technologies like onshore wind, solar PV, and possibly tidal energy. Battery storage will play a crucial role in balancing supply and demand given the intermittency of renewables.

With the first auctions expected as early as 2026, RESS is designed to provide price certainty to generators, encourage investment, and deliver affordable, low-carbon energy to consumers.

Read the full article to see how RESS could get Northern Ireland back on track to meet its 2030 climate target.