Foster publishes strategy on new energy future for Northern Ireland

Energy Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed Executive endorsement of her Department’s new energy framework, which seeks to achieve a more sustainable energy future for Northern Ireland.

The Minister was speaking as she announced publication of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment’s (DETI’s) new Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland 2010 (SEF 2010).

Arlene Foster said: “I have made it clear for some time now that as long as fossil fuels continue to dominate local power production, Northern Ireland will have to deal with the volatility of global shifts in the price of oil, gas and coal.

“That is why Governments across the world are encouraging increased levels of renewable power generation and provision of the associated new infrastructure which is necessary to improve security and diversity of our energy supply.”

The Minister continued: “Our aim is to achieve a competitive, sustainable long-term future for energy in Northern Ireland. The Executive is already working hard to ensure access to secure, competitively priced and sustainable energy supplies, whilst supporting economic growth and recognising the need to address fuel poverty.

“This is a challenging agenda, particularly given the global economic downturn and its impact on Northern Ireland industry and consumers.”

The Strategic Energy Framework sets out clear priorities for Northern Ireland’s energy future over the next 10 years and identifies key energy goals in terms of building competitive markets, ensuring security of supply, enhancing sustainability and developing our energy infrastructure.

Arlene Foster said: “The Framework also confirms the new and ambitious renewable energy targets proposed in last year’s consultation document – in particular, 40% renewable electricity and 10% renewable heat by 2020. These targets highlight the need for effective action against climate change and the need to address other policy goals in terms of security and sustainability of supply and costs.”

Acknowledging a lot of hard work lies ahead if the SEF goals are to be realised, the Minister added: “I fully accept the many challenges we face in balancing competing environmental and cost issues, in order to create a sustainable energy infrastructure that will support economic growth and provide for reliable and competitive energy markets for Northern Ireland.

“I am committed to delivering an energy policy for Northern Ireland that will support a prosperous and sustainable future for all consumers and that seeks to maximise the economic opportunities and benefit for Northern Ireland.”

Notes to editors:

1. DETI is announcing publication of its new Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland 2010 (SEF 2010) which recently received endorsement by the NI Executive.
2. Minister Foster first wrote to Executive Colleagues in November 2008, about developing a new energy framework for Northern Ireland. Feedback from an earlier scoping paper which included initial responses from other Departments, and a number of related energy workshops helped inform, develop and shape the draft Strategic Energy Framework document, which issued for public consultation last year.
3. Over 70 responses were received to the public consultation. Following a detailed analysis of the responses received a final Framework was approved by the Executive on 9 September 2010. The SEF 2010 is cross-cutting in nature and is of interest to a number of Government Departments. As such, it falls under paragraph 2.4 of the Ministerial Code and required Executive approval, prior to being published.
4. For media enquiries, please contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.