Problems in the planning system are jeopardizing the environment, the economy and employment in Northern Ireland, according to the renewable energy organization.

RenewableNI says the system needs “radical reform”.

It alleges that the Appeal Planning Commission (PAC) is approximately 75% operational and severely under-resourced.

The organization said a member received a letter from the GAC confirming this.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice stated that the PAC is a non-departmental government body of the tribunal, but the ministry is responsible for providing resources and services.

They added that the department holds competitions to fill vacant positions.

Director Stephen Agnew said renewable energy for 85,000 homes has been delayed for more than three years.

By 2030, Northern Ireland has set itself the goal of providing 80% of its electricity production from renewable sources.

RenewableNI said the letter said the GAC did not have the resources to provide a commissioner to review the development of renewable electricity.

The letter cited a “significant lack of resources” and a “major joint public inquiry” currently using them all.

He also suggested that only one investigation could be conducted at a time.

Mr. Agnew said that RenewableNI previously had concerns about the PAC’s ability to keep pace when running at 100% power.

He added that this was a “significant hurdle” for all developers and the system was “not fit for purpose”.

“To reach 80% by 2030, we need to double our renewable capacity and we are not developing these projects. Therefore, if business continues as usual, you will not achieve these goals.

“If we achieve our target of 80% renewable energy by 2030, this could attract more than £5bn of new investment to Northern Ireland and create more than 1,500 jobs. Such is the potential.

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“We just need a system that makes it easier.”

There are concerns that some renewable energy investment could be withdrawn from Northern Ireland without reform.

“There is a huge risk that investments in Northern Ireland will be lost and we will miss our 80% targets,” said Tamasin Fraser, UK director of German green energy company ABO Wind.

“Achieving these goals will require an investment of £5bn in Northern Ireland. Elsewhere in the world, they are taking significant steps to actually get ahead in planning to ensure projects get done. Here we are unable to do that.”

She added: “So the question for me is, are we ready to stand by and watch £5 billion of investment go to our neighbors and beyond?

“Or are we ready now to step up and take action and make tangible changes so that we can secure this investment for the benefit of Northern Ireland and ensure better energy security in Northern Ireland and resolve the energy crisis?”

“No timeline in Northern Ireland”

For another company, the simplicity of the planning process in the Republic of Ireland has already proved much more attractive.

Strategic Power Projects has more than €1bn (£870m) worth of projects, with one project taking just five months from application to approval, in line with the Republican timeframe. Director Paul Carson said that such certainty was not available in Northern Ireland.

“There is no schedule in Northern Ireland, we just don’t know,” Mr Carson said.

“Therefore, when a developer makes an investment decision, he always goes where there is certainty, confidence.

“At the moment we don’t have any certainty or certainty about the planning system in Northern Ireland because we just don’t know when we’ll get a decision. And you can’t do business on that basis – you need to be sure of the timing.

“But we are also working on new projects for Northern Ireland. And if we see a change in the approach to planning in Northern Ireland, we will be ready to present these projects, because we all have a task to do here. try to get [to] Goals by 2030,” said Mr. Carson.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Agnew said the renewable electricity industry had agreed to the increase in fees despite Northern Ireland already having the highest planning fees on those islands.

“However, we insist that increased fees should be beneficial, and system resources should meet the needs of users,” he added.