Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 February 2021
53. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent of the shift away from fossil fuels for the generation of electricity; if this is in line with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9346/21]
View answerUnder the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC Ireland committed to meeting a target of at least 16% of gross final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. To assist in meeting this target, Ireland set a national target of achieving 40% of electricity produced from renewable sources.
In 2019, 36.5% of electricity in Ireland was produced from renewable sources. More information on Ireland's renewable energy use can be found in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland report Energy in Ireland 2020 , which presents the latest official statistics on energy use in Ireland.
Ireland has adopted a target of a 70% renewable share in electricity production by 2030. This will contribute to meeting the Programme for Government target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, meeting the long-term target of climate neutrality by 2050, and to meeting the EU-wide binding target, under the recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001, of 32% of the overall share of energy to come from renewable sources by 2030.
