Sustainable Energy
Sustainable Energy (lead Department – DETI)
A major element of Sustainable Development is sustainable energy. Sustainable energy is defined as energy which has minimal negative impacts on human health and healthy functioning of ecological systems and that can be supplied continuously to future generations.
Sustainable energy is also referred to as renewable energy, green energy and clean energy.
DEL’s Involvement
DEL can contribute to the development of this sector by addressing skills issues. It can play its part in terms of ensuring that the educational sectors which it supports have the capacity and ability to address the skills needs of these emerging industries, in the Further Education (FE) sector. This also includes increasing the capacity of research and development in the Higher Education (HE) sector.
DEL also encourages these FE and HE establishments to meet the energy requirements set out in Sustainable Procurement Guidelines and in relation to capital build projects HEIs are guided by the principles developed for GB by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). See section on Sustainable Procurement and Sustainable Operations.
In September 2010 the Department commissioned a research study to assess the skills required over the next ten years to support the growth of companies operating in the sustainable energy sector in Northern Ireland. The report was completed by Ecorys UK Ltd and published by DEL in September 2011.
Research Study to Determine the Skills Required to Support Potential Economic Growth in the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Sector can be viewed on the website
The Department has used the vaulable information in this report to develop a new Policy Framework which will inform DEL's future support of skills for the sustainable energy sector in Northern Ireland.
Other useful publications
Key External Strategies: Sustainable Development Commision Northern Ireland
First Step Towards Sustainability (OFMDFM website, PDF 3.74MB) 
SD Stakeholder News (PDF 151KB)
DETINI Suppliers NIRO Obligation level for 2012/13
