Energy in Ireland
Ireland is a net energy importer. Ireland's import dependency decreased to 85% in 2014.
The cost of all energy imports to Ireland was approximately €5.7 billion, down from €6.5 billion in 2013 due mainly to falling oil and, to a lesser extent, gas import prices.
Consumption of all fuels fell in 2014 with the exception of peat, renewables and non-renewable wastes.
Final consumption of electricity in 2017 was 26 TWh, a 1.1% increase on the previous year. Renewable electricity generation, consisting of wind, hydro, landfill gas, biomass and biogas, accounted for 30.1% of gross electricity consumption.
Energy-related CO2 emissions decreased by 2.1% in 2017 to a level 17% above 1990 levels.
Energy-related CO2 emissions were 18% below 2005 levels.
60% of Irish greenhouse gas emissions are caused by energy consumption.
Historical Data
Electricity
Final consumption of electricity in 2014 was 24 TWh. Electricity demand which peaked in 2008 has since returned to 2004 levels. Renewable electricity generation, consisting of wind, hydro, landfill gas, biomass and biogas, accounted for 22.7% of gross electricity consumption.The use of renewables in electricity generation in 2014 reduced CO2 emissions by 2.6 Mt. In 2014, wind generation accounted for 18.2% of electricity generated and as such was the second largest source of electricity generation after natural gas.
The carbon intensity of electricity fell by 49% since 1990 to a new low of 457 g CO2/kWh in 2014.
Ireland is connected to the adjacent UK National Grid at an electricity interconnection level of 9%. In 2016, Ireland and France agreed to advance the planning of the Celtic Interconnector, which if realized will provide the two countries with a 700 MW transmission capacity by 2025.
Primary energy sources
Natural gas
There have been four commercial natural gas discoveries since exploration began offshore Ireland in the early 1970s; namely the Kinsale Head, Ballycotton and Seven Heads producing gas fields off the coast of Cork and the Corrib gas field off the coast of Mayo.The main natural gas/Fossil gas fields in Ireland are the Corrib gas project and Kinsale Head gas field. Since the Corrib gas field came on stream in 2016, Ireland reduced its energy import dependency from 88% in 2015 to 69% in 2016.
The Corrib Gas Field was discovered off the west coast of Ireland in 1996. Approximately 70% of the size of the Kinsale Head field, it has an estimated producing life of just over 15 years. Production began in 2015. The project was operated by Royal Dutch Shell until 2018, and from 2018 onwards by Vermilion Energy.
Peat
Ireland uses peat, a fuel composed of decayed plants and other organic matter which is usually found in swampy lowlands known as bogs, as energy which is not common in Europe. Peat in Ireland is used for two main purposes – to generate electricity and as a fuel for domestic heating. The raised bogs in Ireland are located mainly in the midlands.Bord na Móna is a commercial semi-state company that was established under the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat in Ireland.
There are 3 peat fuelled power plants operating in Ireland – these are Edenderry, West Offaly and Lough Ree. Bord na Móna has been co-firing peat with biomass at Edenderry for more than 5 years.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service, under the remit of the Minister for Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, deals with Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas under the Habitats Directive. Restrictions have been imposed on the harvesting of peat in certain areas under relevant designations.
Coal
Coal remains an important solid fuel that is still used in home heating by a certain portion of households. In order to improve air quality, certain areas are banned from burning so-called ‘smoky coal.’ The regulations and policy relating to smoky fuel are dealt with by the Minister for Environment.Ireland has a single coal-fired power plant at Moneypoint, Co. Clare which is operated by ESB Power Generation. At 915MW output, it is one of Ireland's largest power stations. The station was originally built in the 1980s as part of a fuel diversity strategy and was significantly refurbished during the 2000s to make it fit for purpose in terms of environmental regulations and standards. Moneypoint is considered to have a useful life until at least 2025.
Oil
There have been no commercial discoveries of oil in Ireland to date.One Irish oil explorer is Providence Resources, with CEO Tony O'Reilly, Junior and among the main owners Tony O'Reilly with a 40% stake.
Renewable Energy
Wind
Wood
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have responsibility for the Forest Service and forestry policy in Ireland. Coillte and Coford also fall under that Department's remit.Wood is used by households that rely on solid fuels for home heating. It is used in open fireplaces, stoves and biomass boilers.
In 2014, the Department produced a draft bioenergy strategy. In compiling the strategy, the Department worked closely with the Department of Agriculture in terms of the potential of sustainable wood biomass for energy purposes.
Energy storage
The utility ESB operates a pumped storage station in Co. Wicklow called Turlough Hill with 292 MW peak power capacity. A Compressed air energy storage project in salt caverns near Larne has received €15m of funding from EU. It is intended to provide a 250-330 MW buffer for 6–8 hours in the electricity system.Energy policy
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment oversees the formulation and implementation of policies concerning Ireland's coal, gas, peat, oil, electricity and renewable energy supply. The department strives to protect Ireland's energy supply, generation, security, affordability and sustainability, and to ensure that Ireland complies with international energy and climate change policies.Carbon Tax
The Minister for Finance introduced, with effect from 1 May 2013, a solid fuel carbon tax. The Revenue Commissioners have responsibility for administering the tax. It applies to coal and peat and is chargeable per tonne of product.National Energy Targets
Ireland has set a national target to reduce energy demand by 20% of the historic average energy use during the period 2000–2005 through energy efficiency measures. The current suite of measures is described in detail in Ireland's National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and annual reports. A binding EU target for renewable energy use is also established. 16% of final energy use and 10% of energy use in the transport sector must be derived from renewable sources by 2020. In order to achieve Ireland's overall renewable energy target, national sub-targets have also been set in the end-use sectors of heat and electricity. Ireland, along with Denmark and Luxembourg, has the most challenging target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the EU; Ireland's target is to achieve 20% lower than the 2005 greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2020. Achieving Ireland's energy targets will help meet its binding EU greenhouse gas emissions target in heat and transport, but does not guarantee it. Emissions targets also include emissions from agriculture and waste disposal; such emissions currently account for 35% of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, with energy-related emissions accounting for the remainder.Progress Towards Targets
Ireland is, on average, just over half way towards meeting its 2020 renewable energy target, with 8.6% of gross final consumption derived from renewables in 2014.The contribution of renewables to gross final consumption was 8.6% in 2014. This compares to a target of 16% to be achieved by 2020. This avoided 3.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and €346 million of fossil fuel imports.
The average emissions of new cars purchased in 2014 was 117.5 g CO2/km, which is below the EU target for car manufacturers of 130 g CO2/km to be reached by 2015.
Energy-related CO2 emissions in those sectors outside the EU Emissions Trading Scheme were 21% below 2005 levels in 2014.
Since 2003 approximately 190 wind farms, connected across 24 counties, have been installed, equating to 2,375 MW of renewable electricity capacity. These wind farms have been instrumental in driving achievement of 22.7% renewable penetration by end 2014.
Between 200 MW and 250 MW of additional wind capacity must be installed every year to 2020. Approximately 270 MW of wind capacity was installed in 2014. Average installed capacity over the last five years has been 177 MW.