Archibald publishes Final Scheme Design for Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has today published the Final Scheme Design for a renewable electricity support scheme.

The Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) is a significant milestone in delivering cheaper energy prices for consumers. It will incentivise renewable electricity generation and position Northern Ireland as a competitive and attractive destination for investment.

The scheme aims to deliver lower energy prices and help achieve the Climate Change Act’s target of 80% renewable electricity consumption by 2030.

Publishing the Scheme, Minister Archibald said: “Increasing investment in renewables is essential to reduce our reliance on high-cost fossil fuels and deliver on our net zero ambitions. The publication of the REPG Final Scheme Design will boost renewable generation and deliver lower electricity costs to households than they are paying today.”

The Final Scheme Design also proposes to deliver community benefits by giving households near REPG-supported projects a discount on their electricity bills.

The Minister added: “The introduction of this scheme will increase investment in renewables and ensure that local communities benefit from the transition to net zero.”

The Final Scheme Design includes:

• an overview of the proposed legal and governance framework to enable the implementation stage;
• the core mechanism for funding the scheme; and
• an outline of the eligibility criteria and contract allocation process.

The Department for the Economy will consult on the REPG Terms and Conditions later this year, providing stakeholders with a key opportunity to input into the contractual aspects of the scheme. The first auction is anticipated in early 2027.

The final scheme design is available here: www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/final-scheme-design-renewable-electricity-support-scheme-northern-ireland-renewable-electricity-price-guarantee