Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity generation fell in 2024, marking a decrease from a peak in 2022. The latest figures, released by the Department for the Economy, indicate that renewable sources accounted for 43.5% of the region’s electricity consumption in 2024, down from 51% in 2022 when 3.8GW was generated from renewable sources.
The data, compiled quarterly and based on the previous 12-month period, highlights a notable drop in the share of renewable energy in Northern Ireland’s electricity mix. Despite the decline, wind energy remains the dominant source, contributing 82% of the region’s renewable output.
Steven Agnew, Director of RenewableNI, expressed concern over the trend, stating: “Northern Ireland is going from leaders to laggards. Today’s figures show we are going backwards and should be a warning alarm to policymakers.”
He pointed to issues with grid capacity as a key factor, noting that renewable energy generation is being reduced more frequently due to a lack of sufficient infrastructure. This process, known as “dispatch down,” has been more common than ever, with levels averaging 30% in 2024—double what was deemed reasonable. Agnew added, “We are turning off renewable generation more often due to a lack of grid capacity, in a process known as ‘dispatch down.’”
The increase in imports from Scotland, facilitated by the Moyle Interconnector, has also played a role in the decline of local renewable generation. Agnew argued that addressing this issue requires investment in infrastructure, particularly the construction of the second North South Interconnector. He explained, “This could halve dispatch down levels by allowing Northern Ireland to send more electricity to the Republic of Ireland, where there is greater demand.”
To combat the decline, RenewableNI has called for timely implementation of the new renewable electricity support scheme. Agnew noted that although it may seem counterintuitive to build more renewable capacity when existing resources are underutilized, expanding renewable energy generation would lower prices and create opportunities for exporting more electricity, particularly to Great Britain.
Agnew concluded, “We now have a Programme for Government suggesting Northern Ireland can be an energy exporter. The Executive need to work together to benefit the Northern Ireland consumer and environment.
