Ireland’s use of renewable energy too low, says EPA

Renewable energy comprises just a fraction of Ireland's energy generation, according the Ireland's Environment 2016 report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Although the amount of renewable energy used to generate electricity is steadily increasing, it still only accounts for 23 per cent of our electricity generation. This compares with Scotland, where 97 per cent of household electricity was generated from wind power in 2015.

The EPA report also explains how a much greater use of renewable energies – such as wind, wave, solar, hydro and geothermal power – would bring great benefits to human health and ecosystems. This is because renewable energies do not produce greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants such as particulate matter, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide.

The EPA report says a move to a low-carbon, energy-efficient society will require "large-scale public and private investment in energy infrastructure, including energy-efficient and innovative energy management systems, energy distribution and smart grid systems".

Fossil fuels

This means massive replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy for electricity generation. Currently, 8.6 per cent of our total energy needs come from the renewable sector, according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (December 2015). This is less than half the EU target of 20 per cent of energy provided by renewable sources by 2020.

The residential sector is the second largest user of energy after transport, accounting for 25 per cent of total energy used in Ireland. Since 1990, there has been a move away from coal and peat to oil, gas and electricity to heat private homes. However, according to the report, fossil-fuels still dominate.

Fossil-fuel subsidies need to be phased out and further direct investment made in renewable energy technologies, says the report. It says €386 million is paid by the State annually either directly to fossil-fuel industries or as winter fuel allowances to those on social welfare.

The EPA report says developments such as energy storage systems for homes and businesses linked to local electricity generation will help change how we source and use energy. To date, solar energy has been used mainly to heat water, but better technology and cheaper photovoltaics has seen an increased use of solar energy to generate electricity in public, commercial and private buildings.