AQW 21367/22-27 Written question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any actions that will be taken to secure the power network across Northern Ireland, given the move away from fossil fuels will increase residential dependency on electricity and the increasing in frequency and impact of adverse weather incidents.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 27 January 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 27 January 2025
- Answer due by
- 11 February 2025
- Answered
- 5 February 20259 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
Answer
My department has been working with DAERA and all departments to finalise the third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3) in response to the risks and opportunities set out in the most recent UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CRA3). The draft NICCAP3 will go to the Executive before a public consultation.
The planning and maintenance of the electricity grid is the collective responsibility of SONI and NIE Networks. NIE Networks is working towards the 2080 change models that were developed by the Met Office in its UK Climate Projections (UKCP 18).
The Utility Regulator has recently approved an unprecedented £2.23 billion for the development and maintenance of the electricity grid over the period April 2025 to March 2031.