AQW 23986/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 08/10/2021
Answered On Date: 30/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the steps his Department is taking to phase out all gas-fired power stations, where carbon is emitted and not captured, by 2035 as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.

Answer:

My Department has been working for some time on an energy strategy for Northern Ireland. The energy strategy will set out the Executive’s pathway to a net zero carbon Northern Ireland by 2050.

The energy strategy will focus on delivering a secure, affordable, decarbonised energy system for Northern Ireland. Gas-fired electricity generators will necessarily continue to play a role in security of supply for Northern Ireland for some time. Carbon capture and storage is one of the technologies which is being actively reviewed to assist in delivering secure, affordable, decarbonised energy.