Obligation Levels

The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation, known as the NIRO, is the Department for the Economy’s main means of increasing renewable electricity generation in Northern Ireland. The NIRO works in tandem with Renewables Obligations covering the rest of the UK. It obliges electricity suppliers to produce a certain number of renewable obligation certificates - known as ROCs - as a proportion of the amount of electricity which they supply to their customers in Northern Ireland.

Alternatively, instead of producing these certificates, suppliers may choose to make a payment to Ofgem (the body which administers the NIRO on behalf of the department).

Article 12(4) of the Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 requires the Department to publish the level of a forthcoming Obligation period six months in advance of its commencing.

Full details of how the Obligation level is calculated are available on the DESNZ website.

Obligation level for 2026/27

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 is 0.184 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.472 ROCs per MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2025/26

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 is 0.193 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.493 ROCs per MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2024/25

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 is 0.192 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.487 ROCs per MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2023/24

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 is 0.184 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.469 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2022/23

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 is 0.193 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.491 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2021/22

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 is 0.194 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.492 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2020/21

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 is 0.185 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.471 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2019/20

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 is 0.190 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.484 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2018/19

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period running from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 is 0.185 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.452 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2017/18

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period running from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 is 0.167 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.409 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2016/17

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period running from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 is 0.142 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.348 ROCs/MWh for the same period.

Obligation level for 2015/16

The obligation level for suppliers to customers in Northern Ireland for the period running from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 is 0.119 ROCs per MWh (megawatt hour).

The Obligation level for England, Wales and Scotland has been set at 0.290 ROCs/MWh for the same period.