William Curry, Corporate and Commercial Partner at Arthur Cox, said:

“The data on electricity consumption and renewable generation reveals that 2017 was the strongest year on record for the local renewable sector, which produced energy that accounted for 34.8% of total electricity consumption across Northern Ireland.

“This was the highest figure for any rolling 12-month period recorded and reflects the changing make-up of the local energy sector as it seeks to meet government targets of 40% of electricity consumption to be generated from renewable sources by 2020.

“Wind remains by far the biggest generator of renewable energy, providing 84.3% of all renewable electricity consumed during 2017.

“Arthur Cox works with a wide range of energy producers and investors, providing advice on applications and regulatory issues. This report reflects what we are seeing in the marketplace, although alternative sources such as biogas and biomass are also becoming more common.”