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

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

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 scheme aims to deliver more stable and predictable energy prices and is a critical step towards achieving the Climate Change Act’s target of 80% renewable electricity consumption by 2030.

The Final Scheme Design also outlines an approach to delivering community benefits by exploring the feasibility of a mandatory approach of introducing discounted electricity bills community benefits for households near REPG-supported projects.

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.