Northern Ireland has made two significant renewable energy commitments: to provide 80% of all its power from renewable sources by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050.
To this end, the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy has been designed to deliver a number of key objectives, including self-sufficiency in affordable renewable energy.
It also aims to end the importing of fossil fuels, ensure that consumers pay a fair price for the energy we produce locally and break the link with volatile commodity prices over which we have no control.
Delivering the solutions that are needed provides us with a once in a generation economic opportunity, as these solutions are also needed across the world.
We need investment in renewable energy infrastructure, investment in collaboration across research and, crucially, innovation to create the technological advances for the products and services we require.
Northern Ireland has a strong academic base which, coupled with our local entrepreneurs and innovators, will allow collaboration with others around the world to deliver our 10X Economy – delivering sustainability, innovation and inclusion.
To support this, the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) has launched the Northern Ireland Energy Summit.
The event will bring both global and local renewable energy expertise together to identify viable opportunities for our local economy through the lens of net zero.
The Summit will hear from acclaimed local and international speakers and explore how we might maximise investment, improve collaboration and change how we do things in order to achieve our renewable energy goals.
This event, which is being organised in co-operation with the Department for the Economy, will see the publication of ‘Pathway to a Renewable Future’.
The document, produced by CASE, will be shared with delegates for discussion and then submitted to the relevant government departments for consideration.
‘Pathway to a Renewable Future’ will seek to enhance collaboration across our society to present new, realistic, and comprehensive plans for meeting our renewables targets.
It will explore how investment in our land, our people and our businesses, alongside collaboration with partners across the world, would increase our economic productivity, ensuring a ‘just’ energy transition for everyone in our society.
If you’re interested in energy, book your tickets now!