While I embrace renewable technologies in principle, their integration into our environment has to be done with forethought and care so that random opportunism does not prevail. Northern Ireland was never considered a viable option for large-scale solar installations due to its latitude. As a result, planning legislation governing renewable energy applications, PPS18, was written only in consideration of wind farms and small-scale, roof-mounted solar PV installations. As a re

All renewable energies in NI are subsidised and at present each consumer in NI pays a levy of £17.25 per annum towards subsidising these renewables for developers. However, the NI exectutive are currently considering that we could see an almost "three-fold increase by 2020." Doubling the target to 40% would, presumably, increase this levy six-fold leaving each consumer in NI to pay a levy of upwards on £103.50 per annum. In addition according to the Report on NIE (Northern Ir