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Renewable energy in the Republic of Ireland

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Wind turbines on County Leitrim's Corrie Mountain
Ireland renewable electricity production by source

Under the original 2009 Renewable Energy Directive Ireland had set a target of producing 16% of all its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020 but that has been updated by a second Renewable Energy Directive whose targets are 32% by 2030. Between 2005 and 2014 the percentage of energy from renewable energy sources grew from just 3.1% to 8.6% of total final consumption. By 2020 the overall renewable energy share was 13.5%, short of its Renewable Energy Drive target of 16%.[1] Renewable electricity accounted for 69% of all renewable energy used in 2020, up from two thirds (66.8%) in 2019.[1]

The country has a large and growing installed wind power capacity at 4,405 MW by the end of 2021 producing 31% of all its electricity needs in that year.[2] By February 2024, there was 1GW of solar PV capacity connected to the grid.[3] By April 2024, the grid had 1GW of storage capacity with almost 750MW of that capacity in the form of battery storage[4] the rest supplied by Turlough Hill.

Energy consumption by sector

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Projected total gross final energy consumption by sector in 2020.

  Heating and cooling (36.6%)
  Electricity (20.9%)
  Transport (42.6%)

According to the Irish National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP),[5] as submitted by all member states as part of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, in 2020 the gross final energy consumption in Ireland by sector is projected to break down as follows:

*Projected energy use by sector in 2020[5] ktoe RE 2020 target
Heating and cooling 4,931 12.0%
Electricity 2,813 42.5%
Transport 5,747 10.0%
Gross final energy consumption* 14,142 16.0%

*All figures calculated as per Directive 2009/28/EC

In 2020 the transport sector is expected to comprise 42.6% of final energy consumption. The heating and cooling sector (also known as the thermal sector) includes domestic heating and air conditioning and industrial heat processes is expected to account for 36.6% of final energy consumption The electricity sector is projected to account for 20.9% of consumption.

Total annual energy consumption (after adjustments) is projected to be 14,142 ktoe (14.142 million tonnes of oil equivalent) by 2020. To meet Ireland's overall target of16% use of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2020 (it was just 3.1% in 2005) targets have been set for each sector. By 2020 renewable energy use is targeted to be 12% in the heating and cooling sector, 42.5% in the electricity sector and 10% in the transport sector.

Sources

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Wind power

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Installed wind power capacity
Year Cumulative Capacity (in MW)
2008
1,027
2009
1,260
2010
1,392
2011
1,631
2012
1,749
2013
2,037
2014
2,262
2015
2,486
2016
2,830
2017
3,127
2018
3,564
2019
4,155
2020
4,351
2021
4,405
2022
4,685
2023
4,802
Main article: Wind power in the Republic of Ireland
Installed windpower capacity (MW)[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
1,027 1,260 1,392 1,631 1,749 2,037 2,262 2,486 2,830 3,127 3,564 4,155 4,351 4,405 4,685 4,802

Wind power has been growing steadily in the Republic of Ireland by around 200 MW per year rising from 1,027 MW in 2008 to 4,351 MW by year end 2020. The grids of the Republic and Northern Ireland are integrated, and the combined wind power capacity is 5,030 MW.[15] During the year 2020 wind power provided 36.3% of the country's electricity[16][17] On 5 February 2022 at 17:45, an all-time record was broken in Ireland, with wind generating 3,603 MW.[18]

As of 2022 almost all wind power generation in Ireland is onshore. However, the Irish government plans to have 5 GW of offshore wind capacity built by 2030, with a goal of 35 GW by 2050.[19]

Solar PV

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Installed solar power capacity
Year Cumulative Capacity (in MW)
2008
0.4
2009
0.6
2010
0.6
2011
0.7
2012
0.7
2013
1.0
2014
1.1
2015
2.1
2016
5.1
2017
15.7
2018
29.0
2019
36.0
2020
89.9
2021
92.4
2022
187.9
2023
445.2
Installed solar PV capacity (MW)[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.1 2.1 5.1 15.7 29.0 36.0 89.9 92.4 187.9 445.2

Solar PV installed capacity in Ireland is amongst the lowest in Europe, it was just over 2MW in 2015. In the same year the corresponding figure for the United Kingdom was 8,915 MW[28] and for Denmark 790 MW.[29] In 2015 the country had the lowest capacity per inhabitant of all EU countries, only Latvia had a lower absolute capacity.[30] By 2023, installed solar capacity had risen to 445.2 MW, the fourth lowest level in the EU. Predictions for future growth in installed capacity varied widely from 500 MW by 2021 to 3,700 MW by 2030 with government support.[31]

Solar radiation and photovoltaic electricity potential in Ireland using optimally inclined photovoltaic modules

Biomass

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Solid biomass and biogas

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Biomass use by sector 2014[32]
Electricity sector Gwh/ ktoe Heating and cooling sector ktoe
Solid biomass 330/28 222
Biogas 206/18 8.1
Total 536/46 230.1

*Converted using IEA unit converter.

Solid biomass was used mostly in the heating and cooling sector providing 222 ktoe of energy, it was also used to generate some electricity at 28 ktoe of energy. Biogas was used mostly in the production of electricity contributing 18 ktoe.

Biofuels

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Biofuel use in transport (ktoe)[32]
2013 2014
Bioethanol/ bio-ETBE 29 27
Of which Biofuels _ _
Of which imported 29 24
Biodiesel 74 90
Of which Biofuels 73 77
Of which imported 50 67

In 2014 Biodiesel provided 90 ktoe to the transport sector whilst Bioethanol/Bio-ETBE provided 27 ktoe.

Targets and Progress

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Targets

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Renewable energy targets and projected consumption (%) 2005–2020, NREAP.[5]
2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
RES- Heating and Cooling (%) 3.50% 4.30% 4.90% 6.10% 6.90% 7.70% 8.90% 9.70% 10.10% 10.50% 11.20% 12.00%
RES-Electricity(%) 6.90% 20.40% 24.60% 25.30% 30.50% 31.00% 32.40% 32.20% 33.80% 37.50% 37.30% 42.50%
RES-Transport(%) 0.00% 3.00% 3.90% 4.60% 5.10% 5.50% 5.90% 6.60% 7.40% 8.10% 8.80% 10.00%
Overall RES(%) 3.10% 6.60% 8.10% 9.00% 10.50% 11.00% 11.80% 12.20% 12.90% 14.00% 14.40% 16.00%

Overall renewable energy sources show a target trajectory of 6.6% share in 2010 rising to 14% by 2020. The electricity sector shows the most ambitious trajectory with a rise from 6.9% of total supply in 2005 to 42.5% by 2020.

Progress

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Renewable energy results and actual consumption (%) 2013,2014.[32]
2013 2014
RES- Heating and Cooling (%) 5.50% 6.60%
RES- Electricity (%) 20.80% 22.70%
RES- Transport (%) 4.90% 5.20%
Overall RES share (%) 7.60% 8.60%

According to Ireland's third progress report, by 2014 the country had achieved an 8.6% share of overall energy use from renewable energy sources. This was below the targeted 11% share planned for that year. Renewable energy use in the electricity sector was the furthest from its target of just over 8 percentage points below its target for the year.

In 2020 Ireland reached its renewable electricity target averaging at 40% renewable through the year (mostly from wind).[16] Heating and cooling and transport targets were not reached.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Renewables". Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Wind energy in Europe: 2021 Statistics and the outlook for 2022-2026". WindEurope. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  3. ^ "One Giga Watt of solar capacity now connected to electricity grid". RTE. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ Ottilie Von Henning (25 April 2024). "ESB reaches 1GW of energy storage on Irish network". CURRENT+-. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "European Commission, National action plans".
  6. ^ "Global Wind Energy Council, Global Wind Reports, 2009,2011,2013,2015".
  7. ^ "Wind Statistics". www.iwea.com. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Global Wind Report 2016" (PDF). files.gwec.net. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Wind in power 2017" (PDF). Wind Europe. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Wind energy in Europe in 2018" (PDF). Wind Europe. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Wind energy in Europe in 2019" (PDF). Wind Europe. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Wind energy in Europe in 2020 - Trends and statistics". WindEurope. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Wind energy in Europe: 2022 Statistics and the outlook for 2023-2027".
  14. ^ "Wind energy in Europe: 2023 Statistics and the outlook for 2024-2030".
  15. ^ "Facts & Stats". www.iwea.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Wind Energy Powers Ireland to Renewable Energy Target". windenergyireland.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  17. ^ "IWEA rebrands as Wind Energy Ireland". RTÉ.ie. 25 January 2021.
  18. ^ "EirGrid Group". EirGrid Group. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Ireland's offshore ambitions are starting to take off". windeurope.org. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  20. ^ "EurObserv'ER, Photovoltaic Barometer 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009". 30 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Photovoltaic barometer 2017 | EurObserv'ER". www.eurobserv-er.org. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  22. ^ "All Photovoltaic barometers | EurObserv'ER". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  23. ^ "Photovoltaic barometer 2020 | EurObserv'ER". 30 April 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  24. ^ "20th annual overview barometer". EurObserv'ER. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  25. ^ "21st annual overview barometer". EurObserv'ER. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  26. ^ "22nd annual overview barometer". EurObserv'ER. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  27. ^ EurObserv'ER (30 April 2024). "Photovoltaic barometer 2024". EurObserv'ER. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  28. ^ "p53 Energy Trends 2016, Department of Energy and Climate Change". 2 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Ingenoren".
  30. ^ "EurObserv'ER, Photovoltaic-Barometer-2016". 28 November 2015.
  31. ^ "Newsbase, 14th April 2016".
  32. ^ a b c "2015 Member State progress report translated into English".
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