In November, the Northern Ireland Energy Forum brought together leading experts, policymakers, and industry figures in Belfast to discuss one shared priority: the path to net zero. With governments across Europe committing to ambitious climate targets, the question on everyone’s mind was the same — is net zero achievable, and if so, how do we get there?

 

This global approach aims to limit climate warming to 1.5°C, prevent severe climate impacts, and build a cleaner, more sustainable economy.

Both Ireland and Northern Ireland have legally binding commitments to reach net zero or climate neutrality by 2050.

 

How Can We Get There?

Achieving net zero requires major changes across every sector. The Energy Forum highlighted several key pillars:

1.Expanding Renewable Energy

Northern Ireland has some of the best onshore wind resources in Europe — but significant investment is still needed to scale renewable energy.

2.Improving Energy Efficiency

Homes, businesses, and industry require better insulation, high-efficiency appliances, and smarter energy use.

3.Electrifying Transport and Heating

Electric vehicles, heat pumps, and low‑carbon district heating are essential to replacing fossil‑fuel systems.

4.Making the Grid More Flexible

This requires advanced forecasting, storage technologies, and flexible market participants such as assetless units.

5.Cutting Industrial Emissions

Industries must shift to green hydrogen, biomethane, carbon capture, and cleaner production methods.

6.Protecting and Restoring Nature

Tree planting and peatland restoration help absorb carbon and strengthen the “net” in net zero.

 

What Industry Leaders Said at the NI Energy Forum:-

The Forum brought together voices from across the sector — including Alan Campbell (SONI), Stephen Gallagher (SSE Airtricity), Roger Henderson (NIE Networks), and Niall Martindale (Kinetic Energy).  Their discussions made one thing clear: decarbonisation is possible, but it is a huge task.

 

1. The Utility Regulator’s role is critical

As we transition to a low-carbon system, the Utility Regulator becomes more important than ever. Reaching net zero requires major changes in how electricity is generated, traded, priced, and delivered — all areas under the Regulator’s oversight.

The Utility Regulator:

• Sets the rules for how the energy system works
• Ensures infrastructure investment, especially for grid upgrades
• Protects consumers during rising costs and system changes
• Encourages innovation, from batteries to hydrogen
• Aligns regulation with government climate policy

John French, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator, captured this perfectly:

“In a time of transition, predictable and transparent regulation is not just helpful – it’s essential.”

But the Regulator also acknowledged reality: renewables alone cannot yet keep the lights on.
This means:

• Gas generation remains necessary until long-duration storage matures
• System stability tools like synchronous compensators are vital
• Battery projects must scale significantly over the next decade

The Regulator aims to balance stability with ambition:

“We remain committed to a just, secure, and sustainable energy future for Northern Ireland.” — John French

 

2. More renewables are essential — especially wind

Panel members agreed that Northern Ireland urgently needs more renewable generation.

Key points raised:

• Onshore wind should expand significantly
• Offshore wind is a major untapped opportunity
• Planning processes must accelerate

Northern Ireland’s strong wind resources make renewable expansion one of the most effective routes to net zero.

 

3. System stability requires new infrastructure

As fossil‑fuel plants reduce output, new stability tools are essential.

Synchronous Condensers:

These stabilise the grid without burning fossil fuels. The Coolkeeragh project, completing in 2027, will demonstrate its impact.

Battery Storage:

Short‑duration batteries already support frequency response and peak management, but long‑duration storage will be essential for a fully renewable system.

 

4. Decarbonising what we already have

Increasing renewables is vital but so is cleaning up existing generation.

Examples discussed:

• Moneypoint ending coal-fired generation
• Gradual reduction of oil and gas reliance
• Replacing natural gas with biomethane and hydrogen blends
• Development of future fuels and green technologies

 

5. Emerging technologies and future solutions

Future solutions highlighted at the Forum included:

• Large‑scale offshore wind
• Green hydrogen production
• Long‑duration energy storage
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
• Advanced forecasting tools
• Smarter, more flexible markets

These technologies won’t all arrive at once — but each will play a part in reaching net zero. Now that we understand the direction of travel, the question becomes: where do we start?  The energy transition is essential, but it can feel overwhelming when considering the scale of change required.

Several industry experts shared practical starting points and emerging technologies that could help shape the early stages of this transition. Many of these ideas were not only insightful but also realistic, and from my perspective, they represent strong foundations for moving toward net zero.

 

Conclusion

Reaching net-zero is challenging, but achievable. Northern Ireland has the natural resources, industry expertise, and regulatory commitment needed to deliver a cleaner, more resilient energy future. By scaling renewables, modernising infrastructure, enabling flexible market participants, and adopting new technologies, the path to net zero becomes not just possible — but practical.

Author: Aravind Kumar