NORTHERN Ireland and Britain must remain within European energy networks following Brexit, a leading energy expert has warned.
Richard Murphy, energy partner at law firm Pinsent Masons warned a failure to maintain ties would leave consumers facing higher bills.
His warning came during an address at the Northern Energy Forum held yesterday.
Mr Murphy said that at least when it came to Ireland's energy consumers, "Brexit cannot mean Brexit".
The remarks came as planning continues to build a second north-south interconnector to improve links between the electricity grids across Ireland and beyond.
Mr Murphy told delegates: "The direction of travel for energy markets has long been towards further integration. This facilitates the efficient transfer of energy from generation points to demand, flattening out peaks and troughs on the system and allowing for smarter trading.
"If Brexit meant that we were to find ourselves moving away from this pan-continental network, we couldn't benefit from those efficiencies and costs would rise.
"The levels of investment in the infrastructure that has delivered these integrated networks makes it a practical non-starter to divest ourselves from the European system."
And Mr Murphy said a UK exit from the European Union made moving towards a Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) in Ireland all the more imperative.
"The I-SEM)in Ireland was originally conceived as a compliance project towards the EU framework for greater integration. However as we move away from it being a political obligation, it is clear that the savings delivered by such an approach become an economic imperative," he said.
"Brexit presents undoubted challenges and uncertainties for the Irish energy market as recognised by its inclusion the NI executive's letter to the prime minister.
"However for the sake of businesses and consumers we must remain focussed on the introduction of I-SEM and the necessary supporting infrastructure such as the proposed north-south interconnector. Brexit cannot disrupt this work. "
And Mr Murphy said a post-EU era could also provide good news for the renewables industry as it faces an uncertain future in terms of government support.
"At the 2015 plenary we painted quite a stark picture for local renewables development if NI was to throw in its lot with Great Britain and the new contracts for difference mechanism," he said.
"However being outside the political union could relax some restrictions and create space for support tailored towards different regions including Northern Ireland."
