Climate Action: Energy and Electricity

Reducing Ireland’s emissions from the Energy and Electricity Sector is a key area of the Climate Action Plan 2021. Actions and targets are set out in the Plan aimed at reducing emissions from this sector by 62 to 81% by 2030.

These include:

• Increasing the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030, including up to 5 Gigawatts of offshore wind energy;
• Introducing a small-scale generator scheme for farmers, business, and communities to generate their own electricity and feed into the grid, in addition to the upcoming microgeneration support scheme for householders;
• Complete the phase-out of coal and peat-fired electricity generation;
• Deploying renewable gas such as biomethane and green hydrogen;
• Review the Government’s strategy on data centres to ensure that the sector will be in alignment with sectoral emissions ceilings and support renewable energy targets; and
• Develop an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments.

Actions recently completed under previous Climate Action Plansinclude:

• 80 renewable (solar, wind and community) energy projects have been approved for funding under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).
• Funding secured for the Celtic Interconnector (to connect Ireland’s energy grid with that of France) to enhance the security of our energy supply.
• Maritime Area Planning Billpublished and National Marine Planning Frameworklaunched.
• New offshore oil explorations banned, as fossil fuels are being phased out.
• Plan developed for deep retrofit and renewable energy installation in schools.
• Protocol published for offshore wind development to ensure consistent marine approach to renewables.
• New offshore transmission grid framework published.
• Eirgrid launch of the public consultation on 'Shaping our Electricity Future'.
• Approval for a new joint venture between Coillte and ESB to develop 1,000MW of onshore windfarms by 2030, enough to power 500,000 homes.
• New grid connection ruleset published to facilitate renewable energy generation and community projects, including microgeneration.
• A pilot low carbon district heating scheme, supported by the Climate Action Fund, started in Tallaght.
• RESS-1 Community Benefit Funds Good Practice Principles Handbookpublished.
• Timetable publishedfor Renewable Energy Support Scheme 2 (RESS-2) auction to support renewable electricity projects in Ireland.

For more information on the progress Ireland has made to date, please see the Climate Action Plan Progress Reports.

Emissions from energy industries accounted for 15% of Ireland’s greenhouse gases in 2020.

This includes emissions from processes like electricity generation and waste incineration, as well as oil and gas production.

Emissions from this sector have decreased in recent years, largely because of the decrease in use of coal and peat to generate electricity.

Developing more renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and increasing use, will play an important part in meeting our climate targets.

The State provides support in a number of ways to help you play your part in tackling emissions from energy.

• Sign up to the SEAI 21-day energy challenge to see how you can reduce your home heating and energy costs, without decreasing your home comfort.
• Solar Energy Information and Grants (SEAI) : Information on the generation of electricity through light and support on choosing and installing solar panels in your home, business or community:

- Solar Water Heating Grants: Up to €1,200 available

- Solar Electricity Grants: Up to €3,000 available (€2,400 towards Solar PV + €600 towards a storage battery)

- Community Energy Grants: grants towards renewable energy installations for small business owners.

To find out more on how you can start your sustainable energy journey visit the SEAI website.

Please click here to return to the main climate action page.