“Zero-in on NI Heat” is a women-led project which investigates barriers and opportunities on the road towards zero emission targets in the heat sector in Northern Ireland.
It involves collaboration between women representatives from key energy sector organisations and academia, specifically: policy makers (Department for the Economy), utility regulators (UREGNI), renewables industry (NIRIG), transmission and distribution networks (SONI and NI Electricity Networks), consumer representatives (NEANI, Consumer Council NI), leading public affairs consultancy (STRATAGEM) and Ulster University.
The recent announcement by Environment Minister Claire Perry, with potential commitment the UK to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, means that all UK jurisdictions will have to define strategies for this target.
NI has abundant renewable energy resources, high dependence on oil heating (62% of domestic sector), poorly developed gas networks and high rates of fuel poverty (42%). These features present opportunities for developing decarbonisation pathways towards the 2050 target and highlight the paramount importance of research in relation to decarbonisation of heat sector.
This project will aim to initiate the development of NI’s unique pathways to heat decarbonisation.
The primary goal of this project is to form a network with a focus on:
Its specific aims and objectives are to:
Name | Role | Company/ Organisation |
---|---|---|
Edel Creery | Connections Manager | NI Electricity Networks |
Fiona McCausland | Head of Energy Efficiency Branch | Department for the Economy (DfE) |
Grainne Walsh | Head of consultancy | STRATAGEM |
Lisa O’Neill | Network Connection Design Engineer | NI Electricity Networks |
Meabh Cormacain | Manager | Renewable Industrial Group NI |
Orla Gray | Energy Policy Advisor | UREGNI |
Pat Austin | Director | NEA NI |
Roisin McLaughlin | Head of Network Operations at the Utility Regulator | UREGNI |
Sarah Foster | Access Planning Engineer | SONI |
Sinead Dynan | Director | Consumer Council |
The steering committee is made up of experts and stakeholders in aspects of energy.
They are devoted to using their knowledge, skills and experience to provide input to the consideration of barriers, opportunities and pathways for the decarbonisation of Northern Ireland.
The members are committed to using their expertise and knowledge on various aspects of energy to engage with other experts and stakeholders through the project’s workshops.
Their specific roles are to:
This project will feature a series of workshops aiming at creation of discussion and dialog between various market stakeholders, support awareness of heat decarbonisation issues.
The themes and dates for the workshops are:
“Barriers and opportunities for residential heat decarbonisation in Northern Ireland” 13 February 2019
"Opportunities and challenges for non-residential heat decarbonisation" 19 March 2019
"Heat infrastructure as a key milestone for heat decarbonisation" 12 June 2019
"Energy policy and Regulation for efficient and timely heat decarbonisation in Northern Ireland" 18 September 2019
This project will culminate with the Final seminar (17 October), where we will share the key outputs of the project and invite leading industry experts to present their visions for heat decarbonisation in Northern Ireland and beyond.
In order to register for the first workshop and/or express your interest in the forthcoming workshops, please, email us:
Dr Ruchira Ghosh r.ghosh@ulster.ac.uk or Dr Stephanie Ogunrin s.ogunrin@ulster.ac.uk