Economy Minister Dr has today published the
Final Scheme Design for a renewable electricity support scheme.
The Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) is a significant
milestone in delivering cheaper energy prices for consumers. It
will incentivise renewable electricity generation and position
Northern Ireland as a competitive and attractive destination for
investment.
The scheme aims to deliver lower energy prices and help achieve
the Climate Change Act's target of 80% renewable electricity
consumption by 2030.
Publishing the Scheme, Minister Archibald said:
“Increasing investment in renewables is essential to
reduce our reliance on high-cost fossil fuels and deliver on our
net zero ambitions. The publication of the REPG
Final Scheme Design will boost renewable
generation and deliver lower electricity costs to households than
they are paying today.”
The Final Scheme Design also proposes to deliver community
benefits by giving households near REPG-supported projects a
discount on their electricity bills.
The Minister added: “The introduction of this scheme will
increase investment in renewables and ensure that local
communities benefit from the transition to net zero.”
The Final Scheme Design includes:
- an overview of the proposed legal and governance framework to
enable the implementation stage;
- the core mechanism for funding the scheme; and
- an outline of the eligibility criteria and contract
allocation process.
The Department for the Economy will consult on the REPG Terms and
Conditions later this year, providing stakeholders with a key
opportunity to input into the contractual aspects of the scheme.
The first auction is anticipated in early 2027.
The final scheme design is available here: www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/final-scheme-design-renewable-electricity-support-scheme-northern-ireland-renewable-electricity-price-guarantee
Notes to editors:
1. The Final Scheme Design has been tailored to fit the unique
characteristics of the all-island Single Electricity Market,
drawing on the most successful elements of existing auction-based
schemes in Britain (CfD) and the Republic of Ireland (RESS).
2. Design considerations for a renewable electricity support
scheme for Northern Ireland: response (www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/design-considerations-renewable-electricity-support-scheme-northern-ireland-response) was
published by the Department in April 2024.
3. The Energy Strategy Action Plan 2025 (www.economy-ni.gov.uk/news/archibald-publishes-energy-strategy-action-plan-2025-march-2025) is
available on the DfE website.
4. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/climate-change-act-northern-ireland-2022-key-elements) established
that the Department for the Economy must ensure at least 80%
electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.
