Regan Brown
Ireland's energy system is characterised by a high share of fossil fuels, with fossil fuels accounting for 87% of the country's total primary energy supply (TPES) in 2019. Oil is the largest share of energy use in Ireland, accounting for nearly half (49%) of TPES, followed by natural gas at 31%. Ireland also consumes coal, peat, and renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, landfill gas, biomass, and biogas. While the country has been making efforts to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and increase renewable energy production, it still faces challenges in meeting renewable energy targets.
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What You'll Learn
Ireland's fossil fuel imports
Ireland is a net energy importer, with an import dependency of 85% in 2014, down from 89% in 2013. The cost of energy imports in 2014 was approximately €5.7 billion, a decrease from €6.5 billion in 2013, due to falling oil and gas import prices. In 2018, Ireland's energy import dependency was 67%, a decrease from an average of 89% between 2001 and 2015.
Oil is the largest share of energy use in Ireland, accounting for nearly half (49%) of total primary energy supply (TPES) in 2019. Ireland imports all of the oil it uses, including crude, unrefined oil and finished petroleum products, with the majority arriving already refined (petrol, diesel, home heating oil, aviation fuel) from the United Kingdom. Oil terminals around the Irish coast facilitate these imports, distributing products directly by road tanker or through depots. Oil is a significant source of domestic heating in Ireland, with 45% of homes using oil for heating, compared to 4% in the United Kingdom.
Natural gas is the second-largest energy source in Ireland, accounting for 31% of TPES in 2019. Ireland imports all of its natural gas from the United Kingdom, although domestic gas production has increased since the Corrib gas field began operations in 2015, leading to a 66% self-sufficiency rate in natural gas that year. However, this rate decreased to 47% in 2019.
Ireland also consumes coal, peat, and renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, landfill gas, biomass, and biogas. While coal and peat consumption are declining, renewable energy sources are increasing, with an absolute increase of 340% in renewable energy use between 2005 and 2019. In 2019, renewables accounted for 12% of Ireland's gross final energy use, up from 2.5% in 2005.
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Oil and gas dependence
Ireland's energy system is characterised by a high share of fossil fuels, with oil and gas dominating the country's energy consumption. In 2019, fossil fuels accounted for 87% of the total primary energy supply, with oil making up nearly half (49%) of this figure. Natural gas, the second-largest energy source, accounted for 31% of total primary energy supply, with coal, peat, and other renewable sources making up the remainder.
Ireland's dependence on oil is significant, with crude oil, petrol, diesel, kerosene, and home heating oil accounting for 45% of the country's primary energy needs. Ireland imports all its oil, and the largest use is for transport, accounting for about 62% of all oil consumed. Oil is also used for residential and business heating, as well as electricity generation.
Natural gas is another critical component of Ireland's energy mix, with 75% of it being imported from the UK through a pipeline from Scotland. The remaining gas is sourced from the Corrib gas field off the coast of Mayo, which has helped reduce Ireland's import dependency in recent years. However, with the field's future uncertain, Ireland may become even more dependent on gas imports. Gas is primarily used for electricity generation, with over half of the gas used for this purpose, while the rest is used for heating households and businesses.
While Ireland has made progress in boosting renewable energy sources, with wind and solar power generating more than 40% of electricity in 2024, the country still faces challenges in meeting its renewable energy targets. The growth in electricity demand has outpaced the development of renewables, and Ireland risks failing to meet EU emissions targets, leading to potential compliance costs.
In summary, Ireland's energy sector is heavily reliant on oil and gas, with fossil fuels making up a significant portion of the country's total primary energy supply. While there has been a steady increase in renewable energy sources, more needs to be done to reduce Ireland's dependence on oil and gas and meet its decarbonisation goals.
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Renewable energy sources
Ireland's energy system is characterized by a high share of fossil fuels, with oil being the largest source of energy, accounting for 49% of total primary energy supply (TPES) in 2019. However, the country has also seen a rapid increase in renewable energy sources in recent years. In 2023, about two-thirds (67.4%) of Ireland's renewable energy went into electricity generation, with wind power being the largest source, contributing 33.7% of the country's electricity supply. Solar PV generation has also increased, accounting for 1.9% of the electricity supply in 2023.
The use of renewable energy in the transport sector has also grown. In 2020, Ireland exceeded its target, reaching 10.2% of renewable energy in transport, including biofuels and electricity consumed in road and rail transport. The annualized average biofuel-blend in road diesel was 8.4% in 2023, an increase from previous years.
Biomass and biogas are also used in Ireland's energy mix. Solid biomass is primarily used in the heating and cooling sector, while biogas is used in electricity production. In 2014, biodiesel and bioethanol/bio-ETBE were used in the transport sector.
Ireland has set ambitious targets for increasing its use of renewable energy sources. The Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP 24) aims to increase the share of electricity generated from renewables to 80% by 2030. The country is also committed to meeting the European Green Deal and REPowerEU plan's more ambitious targets for 2030, which aim to promote the use of renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Energy import vulnerability
Ireland is highly dependent on energy imports, with oil accounting for the largest share of energy imports. In 2019, oil accounted for 72% of all energy imports, with gas imports accounting for 23% and coal imports for 2%. Ireland's energy import dependency decreased from an average of 89% between 2001 and 2015 to 67% in 2018, but the cost of energy imports remains significant, estimated at approximately €4.5 billion in 2019.
Ireland's vulnerability to energy import disruptions is exacerbated by its limited diversity of supply and lack of gas storage infrastructure. The country relies heavily on oil and gas imports from the UK and Norway, and more recently, from North and West Africa. The decline in North Sea oil and gas production has led to the UK becoming a net importer, impacting Irish energy security. Additionally, Ireland's energy infrastructure, including subsea gas and electricity interconnectors, is vulnerable to attacks, accidents, and natural disasters, highlighting the need for contingency planning and capacity building to protect against potential disruptions.
To reduce its vulnerability, the Irish government is undertaking a review of the energy security of its gas and electricity systems, focusing on the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. The review considers potential risks to energy supplies and explores measures such as additional import capacity, energy storage, fuel diversification, and the development of renewable energy sources.
The transformation towards renewable energy is crucial for Ireland to decrease its import dependence and enhance energy security. While renewable energy use has steadily increased, with wind power playing a significant role, fossil fuels still accounted for 87% of the total primary energy supply in 2019. Diversifying the fuel mix, particularly in the transport sector, is essential to reducing Ireland's vulnerability to energy import disruptions and achieving a more sustainable and secure energy future.
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Electricity generation
Ireland's electricity generation is a mix of fossil fuels and renewable sources. Fossil fuels remain Ireland's primary energy source, making up 81.4% of the primary energy supply in 2024. This mix includes oil, gas, coal, and peat. Oil meets 45% of Ireland's primary energy needs, with all oil being imported. The biggest use of oil is for transport, which accounts for 62% of oil consumption. Oil is also used for residential and business heating and electricity generation. Gas accounts for 34% of primary energy needs, with 75% of it being imported from the UK and the rest coming from the Corrib gas field off the coast of Mayo. More than half of the gas consumed is used to generate electricity, with the rest used to heat households and businesses. Ireland has a single coal-fired power plant at Moneypoint, Co. Clare, which is Ireland's largest power station. Coal supplies 4% of Ireland's energy. Peat is also used for energy, though the West Offaly Power Station was refused permission to continue burning peat for electricity and closed in December 2020. Edenderry was the last power station fired by peat in Ireland.
Renewable sources of electricity generation in Ireland include wind, hydro, and solar. Wind farms provided 35% of Ireland and Northern Ireland's electricity in 2023, a record-breaking 13,725 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Ireland has over 300 wind farms, most of which are onshore. In 2020, wind power generated 36.3% of Ireland's electricity demand, one of the highest percentages globally. The efficiency of Ireland's electricity supply has improved over the years due to the introduction of higher-efficiency natural gas plants, the closure of older peat-fired stations, and increased direct generation from renewable sources. The share of renewable generation decreased marginally from 40.7% in 2023 to 39.6% in 2024. However, solar power production increased by 71%, serving 3% of electricity demand. Ireland aims to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources to 80% by 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ireland uses fossil fuels. In 2024, fossil fuels accounted for over 80% of the country's energy consumption.
Oil is the largest source of energy in Ireland, accounting for 45-49% of the country's total primary energy supply (TPES). Natural gas is the second-largest energy source, making up 31-34% of TPES. Coal, peat, and diesel are also used.
Fossil fuels are consumed across most sectors in Ireland, with the transport sector accounting for the largest share (42%) of total final consumption (TFC) in 2019. The industry, residential, and services sectors also use fossil fuels, with the latter two sectors having a combined share of 37%.
Ireland is a net energy importer, with an import dependency of 85% in 2014. The country imports most of its oil and gas, with about 70% of its energy coming from foreign sources. Ireland also imported 3% of its energy from Russia before the Ukraine invasion.
Yes, Ireland is making progress in increasing renewable energy use and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In 2019, renewables accounted for 12% of Ireland's gross final energy use, up from 2.5% in 2005. The country aims to cut its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% from 2018 to 2030.
