Northern Ireland generated nearly half of its energy from renewable sources last year, according to a new Government report.
Published by the Department for Economy, the report outlines the percentage of electricity consumption generated from renewable sources and the types of renewable energy used in Northern Ireland.
There was a 5.6 per cent increase in renewable energy used compared to the previous year. The greatest proportion of the region’s renewable energy was generated from wind at 84.9 per cent.
In 2020, there was more than 551.9GWh of non-wind renewable electricity generated, compared to 206.8GWh in 2015.
Other renewable energy sources included 5.4 per cent from biogas, 4.2 per cent from biomass and 3.4 per cent from solar panels.
Head of Green Energy Group Renewable NI, Steven Agnew said “This remarkable milestone demonstrates the commitment from all those in the renewables industry to help reach our decarbonisation targets while at the same time creating jobs, supporting the economy and local communities.”
The report reflected the impact of Covid-19 with the five lowest months of electricity consumption volumes on record recorded between April and August 2020.
Mr Agnew said in the last 20 years, renewable electricity has resulted in a net £135 million benefit to consumers, a nine million tonne reduction in carbon emissions and the creation of 2,000 jobs.
“Industry and Government are working together to create a cohesive energy strategy that delivers for consumers and greenhouse gas reductions needed to meet our climate ambitions,” he concluded.
LSL News.