The Environmental Protection Agency has announced revised allocations for companies that will 'trade' greenhouse gas emissions.
This year's largest emissions allocation has been given to the ESB's Moneypoint generating station in Kilrush, Co Clare. The installation has been allocated nearly 22 per cent of the total 19.2 million tonnes of allowable emissions.
Under EU legislation, companies will be allowed to 'trade' emissions with others so that the overall allocations are not breached.
The EPA said a number of changes were made to Ireland's emissions allocation following a public consultation on the allocations originally published last September.
It said that as a result of the submissions received from the public and industry and after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, it had made some changes to the methodology through which the allocations are calculated.
The changes primarily relate to how the allowances set aside for new companies or emissions trading entities with a greenhouse gases permit are to be divided, the EPA said.
The power generating sector has been given the bulk of the almost 67 million tonne allowance, followed by the cement sector and other combustion-related industries.