Business

Renewable energy contract for government buildings 'will save £31m'

L-R: Louise Ward Hunter, Belfast Met with Finance Minister Conor Murphy and Economy Minister Diane Dodds at Belfast Met Titanic, one of the organisations to benefit from the new energy contract.
L-R: Louise Ward Hunter, Belfast Met with Finance Minister Conor Murphy and Economy Minister Diane Dodds at Belfast Met Titanic, one of the organisations to benefit from the new energy contract. L-R: Louise Ward Hunter, Belfast Met with Finance Minister Conor Murphy and Economy Minister Diane Dodds at Belfast Met Titanic, one of the organisations to benefit from the new energy contract.

A NEW renewable energy contract for government buildings in the north will save £31 million, the Department of Finance (DoF) has announced.

The move will see 100 per cent renewable energy supplied to buildings across more than 50 organisations, including the Education Authority and PSNI.

DoF said the new approach follows daily electricity prices, taking advantage of any fall in the price of electricity and gives it greater flexibility to minimise the risk of potential price increases.

Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD), within DoF is responsible for the procurement of the two-year contract and worked with the Department for the Economy and the Strategic Investment Board.

DfE and SIB fund an energy management unit which delivers energy management services, aimed at reducing energy consumption and costs across central government.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: “This contract shows how procurement can be a key lever in the transition to a green economy.

“Government is a significant energy user and this move to 100 per cent renewable electricity will help the Executive meet its carbon reduction targets as well as producing financial savings which can be reinvested in public services.”

Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, said: “I am very pleased that this contract, and the significant financial and energy savings it will generate, was made possible by collaboration between DfE, SIB and CPD. a

“By providing expert advice on energy matters, we were able to ensure that not only will these government buildings be powered efficiently, but also that they will contribute to Northern Ireland’s use of renewable energy.

“My department is currently developing a wider energy strategy for Northern Ireland, in which renewables will play a major role both now and into the future, and this project will help to ensure the public sector plays its part in making that vision a reality.”