29. April 2026

Chair, Mat Allen - Letter to Members

Dear Members,

Over the past two years on the Board of Northern Ireland Community Energy (NICE), I have seen first-hand the positive impact our organisation can make. This year, I am honoured to have been elected Chair, with Karen stepping back to Deputy Chair due to other commitments. I want to express my sincere thanks to Karen for her tireless leadership and organisation, which have seen shareholders’ capital repaid (less the £1 shareholding we hope you’ll retain) through careful financial management. She continues to carry many administrative responsibilities, and one of our priorities will be to share that workload more sustainably across the Board.

NICE’s achievements to date are impressive. With your support, we have installed and maintained 18 solar PV systems, providing low-cost—and now free—electricity to community groups and charities across Northern Ireland. By lowering their energy costs, we enable 17 organisations to focus their resources on what they do best: supporting people and strengthening communities.

By background, I am a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. My career began at Shorts in Belfast, before I moved to Hyster‑Yale in Craigavon, where I became Engineering Manager and led design, development and R&D projects, including collaborations with Queen’s University supported by Invest NI. My work on advanced batteries and fuel cells sparked a long‑standing interest in energy systems. Now, having stepped away from the 9‑to‑5, I’m keen to use that experience in the voluntary sector and contribute meaningfully to our collective response to the climate emergency. My involvement with NICE, alongside my work with Climate Emergency UK, has been a rewarding way to do that.

This is a pivotal moment for community energy in Northern Ireland. The Westminster‑funded Great British Community Energy initiative is gaining momentum just as the Stormont Executive needs every available tool to meet its climate commitments. Across England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, community energy is already delivering renewable generation, home insulation, education, and stronger, more resilient communities. Northern Ireland must not be left behind.

The NICE Board—Andy, Pat, Tiziana, Karen and myself—met this week with a full agenda. We are moving forward with practical support for the 17 organisations we surveyed last year and planning new installations for 2026. In parallel, we are updating NICE’s long‑term strategy to prepare for larger, multi‑technology projects in the years ahead. We continue to collaborate with a wide range of partners, including the new regional network CENI, to help advance our work in Northern Ireland.

I hope you will continue to stay engaged as we develop new ideas and bring forward future projects—ideally with support equivalent to that available elsewhere in the UK. Our website (nicommunityenergy.org) and email (info@nicommunityenergy.org), along with our email updates, are the best ways to stay informed about our strategy, plans, and future share offers.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Allen
Chair, Northern Ireland Community Energy