More than half of Northern Ireland’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in the year to June 2026, according to new figures from the Department for the Economy.

Renewables accounted for 53% of total electricity generation during the 12-month period, with 4,431 GWh generated from renewable sources out of a total of 8,286 GWh.

On a rolling 12-month basis, renewable generation has exceeded non-renewable generation since January 2026, the first time this has occurred since the statistical series began in 2018.

Wind accounted for 74% of renewable electricity generation, followed by bioenergy at 18% and solar at 6%. Landfill gas and hydro/tidal generation each contributed 1%.

When electricity imports and exports were included, renewable generation was equivalent to 50% of Northern Ireland’s gross final electricity consumption, up from 44% in the year to June 2025.

Northern Ireland has a target of meeting at least 80% of its electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

Government welcome

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the figures, saying: “The impact of the significant increase in the cost of fossil fuels this year is impacting negatively on our households, especially those with lower incomes, and on our businesses - price increases caused by global events over which we have no control.

“Increased levels of renewable electricity move us away from price volatility and towards more stable and fairer prices for the electricity we use.

“These record renewable electricity figures reflects the ongoing work that my Department, and our partners, are doing to deliver an energy system that is more secure and more affordable from being increasingly powered by local renewable sources.”