Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2019
396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of electricity generated by oil, gas or other fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29058/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2018, approximately 20,751 GWh of electricity was generated in total from fossil fuels (including non-renewable wastes) and this represented 67.5% of electricity generated.
As set out in the All of Government Climate Action Plan which I have recently launched, Ireland is committed to reducing CO2 emissions from the electricity sector by 50–55% relative to the projections under for 2030 under the NDP. We have committed to end the burning of coal in ESB’s Moneypoint generation plant by 2025, and to the replacement of coal-fired generation with low-carbon and renewable technologies. Furthermore, Bord na Móna have announced that they will transition away from peat by 2028. Delivering an early and complete phase-out of coal- and peat-fired electricity generation will create space for the entry of new renewable energy assets onto the system.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimate that in 2018, 33.2% of Ireland’s electricity demand was met from renewable energy sources.
