Industry Consultation: Shaping our Electricity Future

Introduction

Delivering a cleaner, efficient and secure power system in 2030, is at the heart of the Shaping our electricity future project. SONI, as part of EirGrid Group, is a modern, progressive electricity transmission system operator (TSO), serving the needs of consumers of Northern Ireland today and tomorrow.

We operate the Northern Ireland transmission system, plan the transmission grid and run the
wholesale electricity market. It is because of our unique role, that we bring deep expertise and a whole of system perspective to both the challenges and opportunities presented by the clean energy revolution. We have reimagined our purpose, revised our corporate strategy and have re‑equipped ourselves, to prepare the electricity system for a future without fossil fuels.

In September 2021, we will publish the inaugural Shaping our electricity future roadmap. This will be a watershed event both for our industry and for society and the economy in general. The proposed energy transition is a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s response to climate breakdown. The purpose
of the roadmap is to advise and guide the Government, regulator, industry stakeholders and consumers on the optimal pathway to delivering a renewables-based power system.

Crucially, the roadmap will help us to identify the key initiatives required to reach the next stage in this ambition, which the Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA has said, should be no less than 70% electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Consultation to shape the future

This consultation sets out a range of credible approaches and options to meet the Renewable Ambition. SONI is seeking the optimal network investments, electricity market reforms and changes to system operations that achieve the Renewable Ambition, while maintaining the reliability of the electricity supply and minimising the overall cost to the electricity consumer.

In particular, SONI would like your feedback on the analysis, data and findings of reviews performed on electricity markets, networks and system operations. We will use this feedback to help validate our scenario-based models and to update assumptions, drivers and risks. The revised models will be used to produce the final Shaping our electricity future roadmap outlining steps for optimal delivery of the Renewable Ambition. The target date for publishing the final roadmap is Autumn 2021.

Hearing from a diverse range of stakeholders is essential to the success of this initiative, which at its heart is about delivering a clean, affordable, efficient and secure electricity supply to consumers in Northern Ireland by 2030.

This is ‘Our’ electricity future; your grid, your network, your power supply. Help us shape it and together we can deliver a transformed power system for future generations. We cannot do this without you and we all have an obligation to deliver the Renewable Ambition.

Industry Forum on Shaping Our Electricity Future

Industry stakeholders attended the SONI Industry Forum on Shaping Our Electricity Future on 22 April 2021. Download the presentation and watch back on the forum below. 

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Full Technical Report - SOEF

Our ask of you

Please consider the full technical report accompanied by the technical executive summary and submit your views through our online questionnaire available below. This consultation period is open until 12 noon on 14 June 2021.