Part 3: Renewable Energy Options and Benefits
As the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy - the Path to Net Zero aims to have 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and 100% reduction by 2050, renewable energy is becoming more and more of a priority.
Renewable energy has many advantages that make it better for the environment and society. These benefits include:
- Not being a finite resource
- Produce much lower emissions
- Generate jobs (>40 million new jobs worldwide by 2050)
- Cheaper energy bills
- Self-sufficiency
- Resistant to fuel poverty
- Resistant to energy shortages
- Less pollution
- Mitigates climate change!
Businesses are increasingly investing in renewable energy. The most popular renewable energy sources in use in Ireland include:
- Wind power
- Solar PV
- Heat-pump
- Biofuels
- Anaerobic digesters
- Hydropower micro-stations
Supports for renewable energy include:
- Department for the Economy Funding innovation for net zero e-zine - 7 great resources!
- NI Business Info - schemes
- Invest Northern Ireland - green energy support
- NI Direct - grants
- Action Renewables
- Strategic Power Connect
- Signing up to Green Energy. Registration will include:
- 100% renewable electricity
- Green energy certificate
- Window sticker to display on your premises
- Web banner for display