OFTEC NEWS
Engaging with MLAs on the future of energy in Northern Ireland OFTEC IRELAND MANAGER DAVID BLEVINGS OUTLINES HOW THIS YEAR COULD BE PIVOTAL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND TO PUT IN PLACE AN AGREED STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING NET-ZERO EMISSIONS…
Northern Ireland recently went to the polls, leading to a number of newly- elected politicians taking their seats at Westminster as MPs and leaving some vacant positions in the Assembly. A number of new MLAs have now been co-opted into these seats as our political parties shuffled their decks in the wake of their electoral success. Energy is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and an agreed strategy for the future of energy here is a major piece of work currently occupying the Assembly’s very busy ‘in tray’. OFTEC was keen to reach out to all MLAs underlining our call for a fair and pragmatic approach in meeting our net zero obligations. At OFTEC, we firmly believe there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonising heat in Northern Ireland and all low- and no-carbon solutions must also play a role. We wrote to all Northern Ireland MLAs ahead of the Assembly’s summer recess
outlining our position and willingness to engage with them. I’m pleased to report that the letter has been well received and a number of meetings have been scheduled with MLAs or their representatives. In our correspondence, we highlighted how the Department for the Economy (DfE) is preparing to bring forward the Low Carbon Heat Consultation and underlined how the outworking of this will feed into a comprehensive approach to the decarbonisation of heating and buildings in Northern Ireland. It will outline pathways that are stable, predictable and constructive in reducing our emissions, lowering energy demand, and helping to alleviate fuel poverty. We pointed out that over 50% of homes in Northern Ireland are currently heated by a liquid fuel and confirmed that these homes need to transition away from this fossil fuel. We also said the liquid fuel
sector wishes to play its part. The letter stated: “While electrification and the introduction of heat pumps is a fantastic option for new and thermally- efficient homes, we need to learn from the low take up and high costs that have plagued the decarbonisation effort in the Republic. “All options for decarbonisation need to be considered and our local Government should be looking to provide the incentives and regulatory frameworks to enable a technology-neutral approach to reducing carbon emissions. “The industry stands ready to support the introduction of a sustainable and renewable biofuel called hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as part of the energy mix. It will be a much easier, cheaper and less disruptive decarbonisation pathway for the majority of homes in Northern Ireland. “Pure HVO can provide an immediate
“At OFTEC, we firmly believe there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonising heat in Northern Ireland.”
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