Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation in Northern Ireland: Year Ending December 2017 – report published.

The ‘Electricity Consumption and Renewable Electricity Generation in Northern Ireland: Year ending December 2017’ report details the percentage of electricity consumption in Northern Ireland generated from renewable sources and includes information on the type of renewable generation used.

Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation in Northern Ireland: Year Ending September 2023

The report reflects performance against the 2011-15 Programme for Government target which was to “Encourage achievement of 20% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2015” and the Executive’s 2010-20 Strategic Energy Framework which includes a target to achieve 40% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020.

Main results: 

• For the 12 month period January 2017 to December 2017, 34.8% of total electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources located in Northern Ireland. This represents an increase of 9.4 percentage points on the previous 12 month period (January 2016 to December 2016) and is the highest rolling 12 month proportion on record.
• In terms of the volume of electricity consumption between January 2017 to December 2017, approximately 7,783 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of total electricity was consumed in Northern Ireland.Of this, some 2,710 GWh was generated from renewable sources within Northern Ireland.
• Of all renewable electricity generated within Northern Ireland over the 12 month period January 2017 to December 2017, 84.3% was generated from wind.This compares to 82.6% for the previous 12 month period (January 2016 to December 2016).

The full report is available on the Department's website

Notes to editors: 

1. The information presented in the report is derived from data provided to DfE on a monthly basis by Northern Ireland Networks Ltd (NIE Networks). The monthly renewable electricity generation data is derived by aggregating output from renewable electricity generators who are connected to the transmission and distribution network using a combination of data held by NIE Networks and the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI). The renewable electricity generation data details the total amount of renewable electricity generated by such generators in Northern Ireland, by type of generation, for each month excluding any transmission and distribution losses.
2. Electricity produced by those who generate their own electricity (mainly for their own use but some of which may ‘spill’ onto the distribution network) is excluded as information about such ‘microgeneration’ or consumption is not available to NIE Networks.
3. Electricity consumption refers to the total amount of electricity consumption in Northern Ireland as recorded via metered data by NIE Networks. Losses in transmission and distribution and any non-metered consumption are excluded.
4. Electricity generated from renewable sources refers to renewable generators physically located within Northern Ireland and recorded by NIE Networks and SONI. It excludes microgeneration and any imported electricity derived from known or unknown renewable sources.
5. For media enquiries, please contact DfE Press Office on 028 9052 9604. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623974383 and your call will be returned.

6. General information on the Electricity Consumption and Renewable Electricity Generation for Northern Ireland report can be obtained from Sean Donnelly, DfE Analytical Services by email at sean.donnelly@economy-ni.gov.uk or by telephone on 028 9052 9793.

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