NEWS
Irish electric vehicle (EV) sales are stalling, according to new figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), which is calling for government and industry action. While total new car registrations rose by 25% in February, EV sales fell by 15.5% year on year to 1,866 cars. For the first two months of the year, EV sales rose by only 1.4% to 5,968 vehicles, underperforming a 18.3% hike in the total market. Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said, “This slowing down in EV sales is not unique to Ireland and is reflective of other new car markets. It is typical of the life cycle in the adaption of any new technology, where there is a gap between early adapters and the early majority consumers. “To speed up the move to EVs in the wider motoring public, the industry and government must keep working together. For the industry, this means the rolling out of more EV models. For government, it means extending incentives and investing in the national charging infrastructure.” Call for EV sector support as sales flatline in Republic of Ireland
An additional £120m has been allocated in the Spring Budget to build supply chains for offshore wind and carbon capture and storage.
Support for green energy welcomed in Chancellor’s Spring Budget
Allocation of an additional £120m to build supply chains for offshore wind and carbon capture and storage has been welcomed by the electrical industry in Northern Ireland. With offshore wind regarded as a key contributor to electrification and the UK meeting its net zero targets, the Spring Budget announcement has been applauded by engineering and electrotechnical services trade body ECA. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt included the additional funding in his Budget for Long- Term Growth announced on March 6. Also welcomed were an increase in the
threshold for payment of VAT to a turnover of £90,000, potentially benefitting the three-quarters of electrical contractors who are SMEs, and a freeze on fuel duty. However, concern was expressed over funds directed for infrastructure projects under the levelling up agenda. Jane Dawson, ECA Head of Public Relations and Public Affairs, said, “We are concerned this will benefit members in some regions, while others will lose out. This could create a postcode lottery of demand for electrical contractors, which does not necessary reflect the workforce available.”
Northern Ireland losing out on renewables investment and capital
Creation of a renewable energy support scheme (RESS) should
EAI said, “A cost-benefit analysis was prepared
be among immediate priorities for Northern Ireland’s restored government, according to the Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI). The representative body for the island of Ireland’s Single Electricity Market
by the DfE with KPMG investigating a range of rollout scenarios. This cost-benefit analysis illustrated that the rapid rollout
scenario aiming to be completed by 2027 is the optimal option. “Clearly, Economy Minister Conor Murphy will have to also act rapidly or risk endangering NI’s ability to deliver active demand side management.” As the Celtic Interconnector between France and SEM progresses, EAI also highlighted concerns over potential Windsor Framework issues regarding reintegration of the SEM with EU electricity markets.
(SEM), EAI said the absence of such a scheme has caused prospective investment and capital to be diverted away from NI into RoI or GB. While the NI Department for the Economy (DfE) has previously consulted on a RESS, progress collapsed alongside Stormont and the region has fallen behind in delivering key infrastructure such as smart metering.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General.
ELECTEX LIMERICK: REGISTER TO ATTEND AT WWW.BEPEX.IE
22 | IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online