Sectoral emissions in the Energy Industries sector show an decrease of 21.6% in 2023 which is attributable to reductions in coal, fuel oil and natural gas use (-44.3%, -78.2%, and -7.2%) in electricity generation. There was a substantial increase in the amount of imported electricity, accounting for 9.5% of electricity supply in 2023.
In 2023 renewables accounted for 40.7%, (an increase from 38.6% in 2022).
Emissions from electricity generation had decreased year-on-year from 2016 to 2020, but 2021 and 2022 has seen an increase in emissions of 1.4-1.6 million tonnes compared to 2020 respectively. The return to using more carbon intensive fuel along with less renewables and natural gas plant availability played a big part in changing the trend as well as an increasing demand for electricity. In 2023, this trend reversed with 2.2 million tonne reduction despite electricity demand increasing by 3%.
In 2023 the energy industries sector was responsible for 14.3% of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions
This sector accounts for emissions from fuels combusted in electricity generation, waste to energy incineration, oil and natural gas refining, briquetting manufacture as well as fugitive emissions from oil and gas production, transmission and exploration.
There was an increase in the renewable share in electricity generation rising from 38.6% to 40.7% from 2022 to 2023, with wind accounting for 33.7% of electricity supply (up from 33.1%). Renewables accounted for 40.7% and natural gas 44.3% of electricity generated in 2023, with coal, oil, and peat together accounting for 4.6% of electricity generated. The increase in renewables combined with the increase in imported electricity from interconnectors caused emissions intensity of power generation to decrease by 23.3% from 332g CO2/kWh in 2022 to a historic low of 255g CO2/kWh in 2023.
Energy Industries show a decrease in emissions of 30.8% over the period 1990 to 2023. Over the time series, emissions from electricity generation have decreased by 22.1% whereas total electricity consumption has increased by 164%. Emissions from electricity generation increased from 1990 to 2001 by 54.3% and have decreased by 123% between 2001 and 2023. This decrease reflects the improvement in efficiency of modern gas fired power plants replacing older peat and oil-fired plants and the increased share of renewables, primarily, wind power along with increased interconnectivity. This year was the lowest year in the 33-year time series for electricity generation.
(Latest update May 2024)
Under the With Existing Measures scenario, emissions from the energy industries sector are projected to decrease by 57% to 4.4 Mt CO2 eq over the period 2022 to 2030.
Under the With Additional Measures scenario, emissions from the energy industries sector are projected to decrease by 62% to 3.9 Mt CO2 eq over the period 2022 to 2030. Under this scenario it is estimated that renewable electricity generation increases to at least 80% by 2030.