To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for her assessment of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) decision to change policy regarding Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development; (ii) how new DfI policy regarding BESS development will impact the all-island electricity strategy, given that DfI diverges from similar policy in the Republic of Ireland; (iii) whether there has been any disadvantage for Northern Ireland since this change; and (iv) whether she or any official within her Department engaged with industry regarding this change.

I had been made aware of inconsistencies around the grant of planning permission for BESS projects and my officials had liaised with Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which has lead responsibility on planning, to consider this. I understand the clarification offered by the Chief Planner does not represent a change of policy but, rather, puts BESS projects throughout the UK on the same footing in terms of planning definitions. Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland do not share an all island strategy for electricity generation, therefore each jurisdiction is free to adopt its own procedures for consenting BESS projects. My Department had no engagement with industry on this matter prior to the issue of DfI’s planning update.