To ask the Minister for the Economy for an update on how Great British Energy's funding announcements will support projects in Northern Ireland.

Officials from my Department have engaged regularly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and with representatives from Great British Energy (GBE), throughout the development of their Local Power Plan. While GBE operates independently, with its own governance and strategic direction, officials maintain regular engagement to ensure that we maximise the benefits of the Local Power Plan and GBE’s wider strategic priorities.

I accepted an offer of £1.66 million from GBE last year to support renewable energy and battery storage projects across our Further Education colleges. This investment will enable them to generate clean, more affordable energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.