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To assist economic development in areas of special hardship in England (exceptional extension of application period is created for offshore wind equipment manufacturers)

To enable business to achieve water and material efficiencies beyond EU regulatory requirements

To promote renewable energy generation

Background information: The Strategic Energy Framework (SEF), endorsed by the Northern Ireland Executive and published by DETI in September 2010, sets ambitious targets for renewable energy generation.

For renewable heat a target of 10% has been set by the Northern Ireland Executive. The current heat demand in Northern Ireland has been assessed as being 17, 362 GWh per year, of which around 1. 7% (300 GWh) is from renewable sources.

Looking forward to forward to 2020, Northern Ireland's overall heat demand is predicted to drop from 17. 4 TWh per year to 16. 7 TWh per year, with rises in demand from new development being outweighed by reductions in demand with efficiency improvements in the existing sector. The 10% for renewable heat therefore equates to 1. 6TWh (or an additional 1. 3 TWh when considering existing levels).

To save 86 000 tonnes of CO2 annually by 2052 and bring greater fuel choice to some 34, 000 consumers in these areas, provide an option for businesses to use a cleaner, more efficient and cheaper fuel, help to reduce the dependence on coal and oil for household heating and help to alleviate fuel poverty

Background information: Extension of the natural gas network to further towns in the West and North West of Northern Ireland (namely Dungannon, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Coalisland, Omagh, Enniskillen/Derrylin and Strabane).

The economic appraisal on the project calculated that this will involve investment of some £203 million in the provision of approximately 169 km of new natural gas transmission (high pressure) and some 142 km of new gas distribution (low pressure) infrastructure to facilitate the provision of natural gas to the seven towns identified above (final costs are subject to final scheme design and tendered contracts).

To support research and development in relation to agricultural products in various areas, including environment and sustainable development

DARDNI has as its Strategic Vision a thriving and sustainable rural community and environment in Northern Ireland. AFBIs possess a unique breadth of scientific capabilities in the areas of agriculture, animal health, food, environment and biosciences to be offered to a wider prospective national and international customer base. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) (DARDNI) will direct the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to undertake fundamental research, industrial research and experimental development intended to improve the efficiency and quality of production of Annex 1 products.

To improve the economic performance and international competitiveness of the agri-food and forestry sectors by:

• adding value to agricultural products through the application of appropriate technology together with sound manufacturing and environmental management practices;
(. . . )
• improving the application of technology in the forestry sector, encouraging greater integration and collaboration between producers, processors and others in the wood supply and renewable energy chains and improving the marketing capability of businesses.

To promote environmental improvement by the stimulation of development of vacant, derelict or underused land or buildings

Aid for environmental studies linked to investments in the promotion of energy from renewable sources.

This environmental study is part of a larger project that is investigating the potential for compressed air to be used as an energy storage medium. This element will investigate the potential of salt caverns as a Compressed Air Energy Storage medium.

The SPIRE project will provide an informed evidence base on the potential to develop the salt caverns below Larne as a Compressed Air Energy Storage medium which, working in tandem with wind energy, will lead to reductions in carbon emissions by reducing the amount of electricity that has to be generated using conventional fossil fuels.

To deliver an increase in electricity generation from eligible renewables sources

To support business development primarily for SMEs. Fields covered include environmental protection and studies relating to investment decisions on environmental protection, energy saving measures and energy from renewable energy sources.