Northern Ireland Water : The Power of Water Report

The Power of Water Report 18 The transition to a renewable energy era is gathering pace. 2030, when new petrol and diesel cars will no longer be available is less than a decade away. The speed of that transition, and the time it takes to devise and implement new ways of doing things, means that we must start thinking now about how we are going to adapt to the demands of the new era. Northern Ireland is no different in that regard from any other country. We do, however, have some natural advantages. Wind power, because of our geography, is one. But it is how we harness that natural advantage that counts. Can we create the kind of integrated, flexible, low carbon, low energy cost system the new era will demand? Conclusion Can we align the need to decarbonise with the need to grow our economy? Answering those questions will require three basic things: innovation, collaboration and a sense of urgency. Northern Ireland has shown repeatedly that we can innovate - and NI Water hopes that the developments outlined in this report build on that rich history. The key, therefore, is whether we can summon the institutional and political will to realise the potential that innovation can unlock. In the answer to that lies Northern Ireland’s future, and that of generations to come.