The increased deployment of renewable energy, in combination with measures to improve energy efficiency, is one of the primary mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under Directive 2009/28/EC (‘the Renewable Energy Directive’) Ireland committed to meeting a target of 16% of the overall share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy by 2020. In 2019, Ireland achieved a 12% overall share of energy from renewable sources broken down as follows
- a 8.9% share of renewable energy in transport;
- a 6.3% share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector;
- a 36.5% share of renewable energy in electricity production.
For 2020, a shortfall of between 3% and 4% in respect of the overall renewable energy target is projected. Accordingly, to ensure that we meet our 16% target and secure compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive, my Department negotiated international agreements with Estonia and Denmark to purchase statistical transfers in respect of 3.5 TWh of renewable energy, as provided for under Article 6 of the Directive. The purchases were completed at the end of last year.
The Government is committed to accelerating the deployment of renewable energy to meet the ambitious Programme for Government target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, to meet the long-term target of climate neutrality by 2050 contained in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020, and to contribute to the EU-wide binding target, under the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (‘the recast Renewable Energy Directive’), of 32% of energy from renewable sources by 2030.
To achieve these goals, Ireland has adopted a target of 70% of renewable energy in electricity production by 2030, to be delivered through the deployment of additional onshore and offshore renewable capacity, including 5GW of offshore wind, which will be supported through the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS), and through the increased deployment of microgeneration to be supported by a forthcoming microgeneration support scheme.
The increased deployment of renewable energy will assist in decarbonising the transport sector, through increased use of biofuels provided for through the Biofuel Obligation Schemes and further electrification of the sector through the deployment of electric vehicles and associated infrastructure. In addition to energy efficiency measures, the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector will be achieved through renewable energy measures such as the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and further electrification of the sector by the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030.
The development of renewable energy sources will contribute to sustained and sustainable economic growth by supporting economic activity and new jobs, reducing our reliance on imported fossils fuels, and mitigating the long-term damage that rising greenhouse gases will cause to the national, European and global economy.
