4 | MANE ENERGY | AUGUST 2019
GOING
COAL FREE
NORTHERN IRELAND POWER GRID GOES RECORD TIME WITHOUT COAL
Northern Ireland’s electricity system has
set a record time operating without coal.
New analysis from SONI, (System Operator
for Northern Ireland) shows that the grid in
Northern Ireland operated without coal
between 11 April and May 7 – a total of 25 days.
This was replicated in the Republic, meaning that
this is the longest period of time the island’s integrated
electricity system has run without coal since the all-island
electricity market was introduced in 2007.
Over the 25-day period, gas made up 60% of the fuel mix whilst renewable energy accounted for 30 per cent. The electricity grid on the island of Ireland is world-leading when it comes to the amount of renewable energy on the power system, handling up to 65% at any given time.
In 2018 in Northern Ireland, 38% of electricity demand was met with renewable energy, with the target of 40% meant to be met by 2020.