Background and Policy

The European Union has set all member states individual targets to increase the amount of renewable energy they produce in order to help reduce the harmful effects of greenhouse gases that are produced by traditional fossil fuels such as oil and coal.

Many fossil fuels are also increasingly limited in supply and countries/regions that do not have indigenous energy source are facing a future short fall.

Northern Ireland currently imports 98% of all the primary energy it uses. It is therefore imperative that we as a region meet the challenge of producing energy locally in environmentally responsible and sustainable ways.

The UK’s target share of total energy from renewable sources is 15% by 2020. This will require approximately 35-40% of electricity to come from natural sources including, water, waste and wind. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has proposed for consultation a target for Northern Ireland of 40% of electricity from renewables by 2020.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment announced the commencement of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Northern Ireland’s marine tidal resource on 2 December 2008. The draft results of the SEA were published in December 2009 by DETI for consultation in conjunction with a Stragic Action Plan for Northern Ireland's marine energy (see draft SEA and SAP). Upon completion of the assessment, it is envisaged that the Crown Estate will make a call for proposals for marine tidal projects to which Thetis aims to respond.

Following further feasibility assessments and subject to the outcome of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Thetis aims to submit detailed proposals for a commercial marine tidal stream project in Northern Ireland of 100-200 MW installed capacity, which could potentially be capable of meeting approximately 5% of Northern Ireland’s electricity demand.