Renewable sources produced half of NI electricity in 2022
- Published
More than half of the electricity used in Northern Ireland in 2022 came from local renewable sources, data suggests.
The total of 51% was an increase of almost 10 percentage points compared with the previous year.
2021 was a relatively poor year for renewable generation across Europe due to lower-than-average wind speeds.
Official figures show that February was the best month on record for renewables use in Northern Ireland, accounting for 76.5% of electricity consumption.
Northern Ireland has a target of at least 80% of electricity consumption coming from renewable sources by 2030.
The key source of renewable power is wind, accounting for more than 85% of renewable generation in 2022.
Biogas and biomass combined accounted for about 9% with solar providing 3%.
Some imported electricity consumed in Northern Ireland is also generated from renewable sources outside Northern Ireland.
However the full extent of that is unknown and therefore cannot be reported separately.
A major part of getting to the 80% renewable electricity target is supposed to be the development of offshore wind farms.
Northern Ireland has no offshore wind facilities and a number of proposed projects have been abandoned.
However the Department for the Economy and the Crown Estate, which controls the sea bed, recently agreed a statement of intent towards establishing offshore wind leasing, external for Northern Ireland.
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