7th August 2001

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Northern Ireland's economy is perfectly poised to exploit the growing world interest in renewable and sustainable energy, but only if it moves quickly to seize the growth opportunities now opening up in the sector.

That's the view of Professor Brian Norton, Dean of the University of Ulster's Faculty of Engineering, and a world expert on renewable energy technologies.

"There is a major economic and industrial growth opportunity opening up in the renewable energy sector,' said the Professor. " that could make Northern Ireland the renewable energy powerhouse of the UK."

Professor Norton was speaking as preparations were being finalised for REMIC, (Renewable Energy In Maritime Island Climates) a major international conference on renewable energy to be hosted by the University next month at W5 in Belfast's Odyssey complex.

"Renewable energy has moved from being a green 'fringe' interest to being mainstream. This is the first conference that brings together academics, public sector bodies and commercial interests to drive forward Northern Ireland's involvement in what is now a significant industry."

The UK has lagged behind in this new green industry, said Professor Norton. But Northern Ireland, of all the UK regions, is perfectly placed to exploit the new opportunities.

"There is a huge developmental ferment going on in the field of wind and solar energy, Coupled with the growing interest in offshore wind energy ñwhich provides a stronger, more constant source of power than on-shore winds, these developments create tremendous opportunities for Northern Ireland industry," said Professor Norton.

"We have a strong marine engineering tradition here, plus a world class aviation industry presence with extensive turbine development skills. Given the existing strong engineering traditions of Northern Ireland's industrial base, we here are very well positioned to assume leadership in the renewable energy sector."

And the public sector is swinging major support behind the new technologies, according to the Professor.

"There is strong Government participation and encouragement for companies and research teams working in this field ñ a pattern that is set to expand in the future, as Kyoto Treaty commitments at a global level kick in.

"Renewable energy is a way of generating electricity without producing carbon dioxide. There are international commitments - recently reaffirmed at the G8 summit in Genoa ñ to reduciethe level of CO2 emission ñ the Kyoto Protocol. To do that, governments need to invest in renewable energy, and they've introduced a whole range of schemes to encourage its developments. In GB, that's taken the form of a Renewable Energy Obligation on the part of electricity providers. By which they have to have a specific percentage of their energy produced from renewable energy sources. That immediately creates a commercial opportunity - to date, taken up primarily by wind energy firms.

In Northern Ireland, there's NFFO ñ the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation: that has sparked the development of the wind farms visible across the Province.

Soon, experts predict, Northern Ireland 's electricity generators will also have a Renewable Energy Obligation That too will stimulate commercial development, as will the equivalent Alternative Energy Requirement in the Republic of Ireland.

But he warned that if we do not move fast, other countries will soon snatch the opportunities from under our noses.

" The UK is already an international laggard in the sector. Here in Northern Ireland, we need act quickly to build up our indigenous industry and R&D base, or the sector will be filled by imports.

" Internationally, this is an industry sector which is growing very rapidly, and one in which Northern Ireland could rapidly become a leader.

"The University of Ulster is already a leading UK research player in the field, not only in the wind and solar energy sector, but also in biomass energy sources.

"Part of the agenda and rationale for bringing the September conference to Northern Ireland is to place the Province firmly at the forefront of UK developments in this field ñ and forge the kind of dynamic links between the commercial, research and public sectors that will enable Northern Ireland to become the UK's renewable energy powerhouse."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk