Economy Minister Diane Dodds set out her vision for the energy sector including an ambitious new renewable electricity target for Northern Ireland.
She said: "Northern Ireland has been hugely successful at bringing forward renewable electricity investments. We continue to be a market leader, achieving almost 48% of electricity consumed in the region from indigenous renewable sources – largely onshore wind.
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"We have led the way in developing renewable electricity and this success has helped to support a low carbon and renewable energy economy made up of 3,500 businesses, 5,400 jobs and £269million of exports.
"Whilst work is ongoing to gather the evidence needed to set a new target for Northern Ireland, I firmly believe that this target should not be below 70% by 2030.
"This outlines how ambitious I want our Energy Strategy to be; and I want stakeholders and investors to be aware of our ambition."
The Minister also spoke to the delegates about her plans to develop a hydrogen economy in Northern Ireland.
She continued: "Hydrogen is seen as a key enabler of decarbonisation in the pathway to net zero emissions.
"In order to lead the development of a hydrogen economy, I will bring key players together across the public sector at a senior level to provide government oversight and co-ordination on the development of the hydrogen economy in Northern Ireland."
