Plans to invest over £50 million in wind and solar across Northern Ireland over the next three years have gained major support.
Renewables expert Everun has pledged its support to the investment following COP27 in Egypt last week.
Everun, which has been in operation since 2010, currently manages over £150m worth of renewable assets for clients across the Island of Ireland.
In the last year the company has invested over £2m bringing its workforce to 45 staff as well as significantly investing in high value stock, expanding their premises and wider infrastructure.
The company plans to invest a further £7.5m over the next three years to support the delivery of an additional £50m of renewable energy assets in Northern Ireland. That investment will also include creating a further 25 engineering and professional services jobs.
Managing director Michael Thompson said: "As part of our continued investment in developing energy generating wind and solar projects we are delighted to be able to play our part in delivering the Northern Ireland target of 80% renewable energy use by 2030 and to be in the position to create a further 25 highly specialised jobs within the sector.
"As a renewable energy management company that manages wind and solar renewable energy sources, EV charging, smart motor systems, and renewable switchover we recognise that we have a responsibility in the private sector to invest heavily in supporting the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy and Climate Change Bill."
Mr Thompson says Northern Ireland as a whole has a long way to go to meet the 80% target. He added the potential to reach energy security is there but much work is still to be done by both government and the private sector.
Already managing more than 160 wind turbines, on single sites and wind farms, as well as multiple solar installations, Everun is also celebrating its expansion into the Republic of Ireland market this year.
Mr Thompson said that Northern Ireland is at least four years behind the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the UK.
The Northern Ireland Climate Change Bill includes a Climate Action Plan to be published at the end of the year following Royal Assent in June.
"The rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland has been expanding renewable generation with a range of support mechanisms – but Northern Ireland has lagged behind without a clear strategy from our Executive," said Mr Thompson.
"That has consequences. Northern Ireland is being held back from an overall economic point of view due to the lack of investment in energy infrastructure and renewables.
"Our manufacturing sector is heavily reliant on huge energy usage, therefore the surging costs makes them less competitive leaving less profits for reinvestment.
"We have to sort out issues such as planning and the electricity grid in order to achieve our targets which should include control of our own energy security. We should be ambitious enough to consider exporting power beyond NI, and then we can make our economy anything we want it to be."
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
25/11/2024
Northern Ireland-based construction company GRAHAM has been awarded Platinum accreditation by The 5% Club, which is their highest level of accolade. The 5% Club company, a benchmark of investment in future talent, awarded GRAHAM the Platinum membership for their unwavering commitment to empowering ...
25/11/2024
Building and civil engineering contractor Farrans, based in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, has been selected as one of 19 businesses as preferred partners to SP Energy Networks' record £5.4bn supply chain contract programme. SP Energy Networks have selected the 19 companies to help them deliver the ...
25/11/2024
Energy provider ESB Networks has been working over the weekend to restore power to 60,000 homes predominantly in counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway following the impact of Storm Bert. As of 5.10pm, 11,000 of ESB Network's customers remained without power, meaning 49,000 homes had saw their ...
25/11/2024
Alliance has rejected Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's claims that NI Water's funding model is 'fit for purpose'. Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson, Andy McMurray, accused the Minister of "burying his head in the sand" over the funding issues and stated that the Minister rejected evidence ...
25/11/2024
Grass Pitch Refurbishment Projects in Sandyford, Dublin, have successfully been completed, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) has announced. Pitches at both Moreen Park and Páirc Uí Bhriain were the subject of upgrade and improvement works as part of an ongoing programme aimed at ...
25/11/2024
Northern Ireland construction company McLaughlin & Harvey placed runner-up for social impact at the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) End of Year Gala. The event, recently held at the Natural History Museum in London, recognises and celebrates outstanding company-wide performance among ...
25/11/2024
Expert water services crews are working to locate and repair a major pipe burst which is impacting water supply across Mid Kerry, Uisce Éireann has announced. The affected raw water pipe provides water to the Mid Kerry Gearha Water Treatment Plant supplying Listry, Beaufort, Killorglin and ...
25/11/2024
Uisce Éireann has temporarily shut down the Dunmanway Water Treatment Plant in Cork after it was impacted due to poor raw water quality from storm flooding. The turbidity of the incoming water for treatment remains high, resulting in the closure of the plant, and reservoirs in the area are now ...
25/11/2024
Irish Government has offered financial support to householders who have been impacted by Storm Bert. The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme provides income-tested financial support to those whose homes have been damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who cannot meet costs for essential ...
25/11/2024
A topographic and hydrographic survey will be carried out from today onwards by Murphy Geospatial Limited for the N17 Knock to Collooney [Atlantic Economic Corridor] Project. The project will consider the upgrade of the existing N17 from Knock in County Mayo to Collooney in County Sligo. The ...