Ireland

General energy system and GHG emissions

Ireland is very dependent on imported energy supply. In 2001, net imports contributed almost 88% of the Total Primary Energy Requirement (TPER). Another feature of Irish energy supply is the heavy bias towards fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources. These forms of energy made up 98% of TPER, with just 2% coming from renewable energy sources.
A breakdown of energy sources for 2001 is as follows:
  • Coal   14%
  • Peat   6%
  • Oil   57%
  • Natural gas   21%
  • Renewables (Biomass, hydro and wind)   2%
In terms of Total Final Consumption (TFC - includes electricity less losses in generation) the consumption by sector was as follows:
  • Industry   20%
  • Transport   39%
  • Residential   24%
  • Commercial   14%
  • Agricultural   3%
In 2004 DG Tren of CEC assessed the state of development of renewable energy in the Member States of the European Union, and documented country profiles for all 25 MS {COM(2004)366 final}. In the Irish country profile you find information on the current status and potentials of all Renewable Energy Sources and on the main supporting policies on national level.
The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources provides a detailed breakdown of The Irish Energy Supply. Details of Ireland's national GHG inventories, policies and measures, etc., are presented in the Second National Communication (Ireland - Second National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
Greenhouse gas emissions inventories are produced by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is planned to publish these on the agency website in the near future.

The latest EPA data show that the 1990 reference emissions level for Ireland is 53.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Under the EU Burden Sharing Agreement, total emissions for Ireland must be held at 13% above this reference level, the target to be achieved in the period 2008 - 2012. For the year 2000 the estimated total emissions were 66.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or about 24% above the reference level.
These were broken down by IPCC sector as follows:
  • Energy sector   64%
  • Industrial Processes   6%
  • Solvent & Other Product Use   ~0%
  • Agricultural   27%
  • Land use change and Forestry   ~0%
  • Waste   2%
Emissions resulting from energy used in agriculture are included in the Energy sector category.

General description of bioenergy systems

Bioenergy in Ireland
Of the 2% of TPER that is currently provided by Renewables, bioenergy contributes half of this amount. This is primarily through the supply of thermal energy in
  • Boardmills which combust wood residues to raise process steam,
  • Sawmills which combust wood residues to provide hot water for drying kilns, and
  • Domestic use where some householders burn firewood for space heating.
In addition there is a total of 15 MWe of installed electricity generation capacity from landfill gas and some small applications of anaerobic digestion where the energy is used to provide process/space heating.

Land use, land use change, and forestry

Estimates of Changes in Forest and Other Woody Biomass Stocks are included in the greenhouse gas emissions inventories. Regarding the
  • forest and grassland conversion,
  • abandonment of managed lands, and
  • CO2 emissions and removals from soils
research is underway to establish reference bases for their estimation and inclusion in the GHG emissions inventories.

National policies and measures

The National Climate Change Strategy provides the framework for achieving National GHG emissions reductions. The strategy recognises that the burden for the Kyoto commitment period and beyond must be borne equitably within the economy.
Reduction of emissions will be achieved through an integrated approach, using the full range of instruments and policy options.
These include:
  • The use of economic instruments (including taxation and emissions trading) with broad sectoral and/or cross-sectoral application;
  • A broad range of policies and measures tailored specifically to relevant sectors;
  • A vigorous and appropriate pursuit of common and coordinated policies and measures implemented at EU and wider international levels;
  • Participation in international emissions trading.
The energy sector is recognised as a critical area of focus and two key policy options are highlighted
  • fuel switching to less carbon intensive fuels and
  • improving the efficiency of energy transformation.
The maximisation of renewable forms of energy is seen as an essential component of actions towards meeting Kyoto commitments and progress in attaining targets for the increase of renewable capacity will be an important aspect of the biennial review of this strategy.
Renewable Energy Programs

In order to encourage the development of electricity generated from renewable energy in Ireland, the government launched the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) Programme in 1995. To date there have been five rounds of the programme. In each round a capacity for each renewable is given and a unit price cap is stated. Competitive tenders are invited to fill the capacity indicated.
In the five rounds of AER so far concluded, the dominant technology has been wind energy. The only form of biomass to have been successfully applied under this programme has been power generated from landfill gas.
In the recent launch of the sixth round, AER VI, the government has explicitly recognised the need to encourage bioenergy development by establishing bands which are aimed at stimulating power generation both from wood residue based biomass and anaerobic digestion.
With the establishment of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (known as Sustainable Energy Ireland - SEI), the government has provided €16.25 million for the period to 2006 through an RD&D programme in support of renewable energy development. This programme provides capital support for projects that are near commercial development stage, as well as promising technologies / methods which require additional R&D work. Feasibility studies towards project development are also grant aided under this programme. Details are available under Research and Development at www.sei.ie.

Energy Policies of IEA Countries -- Ireland In the four years since the last in-depth Review, the Irish energy sector has seen a number of important developments, notably reform of the electricity and natural gas markets, and the move towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Further information is available at IEA Publications Bookshop

Regional and local policies and measures

Agriculture is a major contributor to Irish GHG emissions making up about 35% of total emissions. In order to address this sectoral contribution, significant reductions in associated methane emissions are to be achieved through reductions in cattle numbers and other measures such as extensification, Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) and changes in management practices. Reductions in Nitrous Oxide emissions are to be achieved through a combination of measures, including efficient use of organic and chemical nitrogen, efficient recycling of slurry and dirty water and bandspreading of animal waste. Development of anaerobic digestion of animal waste with resulting energy production is also to be encouraged.
Forest coverage in Ireland is currently about 9% and the government has a stated policy to increase this level to 17% by 2030. The annual afforestation target is 20,000 hectares and this is being promoted through afforestation grants and premia.

Implementation projects

Research programs

Other important links