Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any steps her Department is taking to help micro-businesses invest in onsite renewable energy generation.
Minister for the Economy: My Department is committed to increasing investment in renewable energy technologies aimed at delivering improved business competitiveness through reduced energy costs. Initiatives, such as the £40m Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme, delivered through Invest NI, targets investment across the region supporting sustainable economic development and promoting growth in the green economy.
The programme has been subject to incredibly high demand owing to the appetite across businesses to adopt more efficient practices and drive down operating costs.
Micro businesses have accounted for 38% of enquires into the energy related aspects of the programme to date whilst 55% of grant offer letters processed have been directed towards businesses designated as either micro or small.
Other aspects of the programme include a technical consultancy service offering access to sustainability reports and energy audits which can be a beneficial initial step for businesses in enabling the deployment of renewable energy technologies.
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