Search

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.

Environmental investment aid for the promotion of energy from renewable energy sources, focused on the wave and tidal energy sectors

To accelerate the development, demonstration and commercial deployment of energy technologies in order to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emission and help achieve energy and climate change goals. The measure aims at coordinating R&D efforts by the state and the industry and addressing the barriers to effective deployment of new energy technologies in the UK

To address the market failure in which the landlords do not have incentive to improve the energy efficiency of his properties

Increasing energy efficiency in residential property can make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions. There is a particular need for action targeted at the rented residential sector, since such properties produce more emissions than other homes. This reflects a market failure in the residential rented property sector, which discourages landlords from improving the energy efficiency of the properties that they let. There is a real incentive for a homeowner to improve the energy efficiency of their home, which does not exist for landlords. This is because the benefits of such improvements, in the form of increased comfort and lower utility bills, are enjoyed by the tenant and not to the landlord.

To promote food, agricultural and fisheries policies, regulation and development based on scientific knowledge with due consideration to a sustainable utilisation and management and the terrestrial and aquatic resources (Priority is placed on the issues of environment, food quality, food safety, plant and animal health and animal welfare)