AQW 8656/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 13/10/2020
Answered On Date: 12/11/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) whether the Barnett consequentials of circa £30 million per year until 2040 for renewable heat, as outlined by the Chancellor, will be available to new projects from 1 April 2020; or (ii) whether the money will be returned to Treasury if it is not committed to projects, or to schemes that it was allocated to under the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Initiative, are subsequently closed.

Answer:

The NDNA includes a commitment that, “RHI will be closed down and replaced by a scheme that effectively cuts carbon emissions”. I will bring forward a new scheme in due course. Any new scheme will be introduced in line with the new Northern Ireland Energy strategy, as part of an overall framework to support the pathway to net zero carbon.

Funds for the RHI scheme are drawn down from the AME budget as required. Where funds are not drawn down, they will be retained by HM Treasury.