Northern Ireland

  • Home supply and services

    Editor Pick’s | Fuel Poverty Monitor reveals systemic challenges in Northern Ireland

    This article was originally published on 8 October 2019 in Energy Spectrum Ireland.  On 17 September, EAS and National Energy Action (NEA) published The Fuel Poverty Monitor 2018/19. It highlighted that stakeholders in Northern Ireland have shown an interest in energy efficiency and affordability, however, several barriers to entry remain. Affecting...

  • Home supply and services

    NI electricity prices are rising – All you knead to know

    Last week two of the largest electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland, Electric Ireland and SSE Airtricity, announced they are raising electricity prices for domestic customers by 8% and 6.9% respectively from 01 October 2019. These increases come days after the announcement from Northern Ireland’s largest supplier, Power NI, that they...

  • Home supply and services

    Rise and fall – regulated price changes afoot

    Despite a high number of suppliers per capita, the largest supplier in the Northern Irish electricity market retains a high market share and a price control. In this week's blog, discuss the recently announced price rise for Power NI, and compare this to the reductions announced in the price cap...

  • Heat networks

    Money for nothing – NI non-domestic RHI payments

    The Northern Ireland non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was introduced in November 2012. Its aim was to incentivise the uptake of renewable heating technologies by providing participants with subsidies to generate heat from renewable sources, such as biomass. Despite its best intentions, the failings of the NI RHI are now...

  • Regulation and policy

    Impasse at Stormont – what now for Northern Ireland energy policy?

    Power-sharing talks between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) collapsed on 14 February, meaning continued uncertainty on the future policy direction for Northern Ireland (NI). This lack of surety extends into energy. There is a clear sectoral policy gap; the need for an update to the 2010 Strategic...

  • Low carbon generation

    CRM auction: age isn’t everything

    Media reports in Ireland and Northern Ireland are raising concerns over the possibility of power plant closures. The threatened shutdowns arise due to the outcome of the T-1 Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) auction. The closures may commence as early as May 2018 if the coverage is to be believed. How...