Electricity in Ireland in 2023

As of 2023, more than half of Ireland's electricity is generated from fossil fuels and gas, with shares of roughly 48% and 43% respectively. On the brighter side, low-carbon sources contribute to approximately 42% of Ireland's electric power. Wind energy represents the majority of this share, contributing around 35% to the grid. Hydroelectricity, biofuels, and a small component of net imports make up for the remaining approximately 16% of electricity production in the country.

Suggestions

For Ireland to increase its low-carbon power generation, expanding the existing wind energy capabilities seems to be a promising approach as this technology already significantly contributes to the nation's electricity supply. At the same time, it's worth considering the implementation of nuclear power like in France where nuclear energy accounts for 66% of electricity generation. Similar success stories can be seen in Slovakia, Ukraine, and Finland, where nuclear power forms 61%, 58%, and 42% of electricity production respectively. While the introduction of nuclear energy may present its own challenges, these countries' experience may offer valuable insights in harnessing this low-carbon energy source on a large scale.

History

Low-carbon power in Ireland has seen a steady increase since the early 21st century, primarily due to wind energy. Beginning with a modest 0.5 terawatt-hours(TWh) increase in 2005, wind power generation witnessed consistent growth over the following years, with an impressive hike of 2.2 TWh in 2020. Despite this admirable progress in wind energy, there were a couple of years, such as 2012 and 2016, where the production slightly declined. However, these dips did not deter further improvements in the following years. Alongside wind, biofuels made a small yet positive contribution to the green energy mix in 2020, with an increase of .4 TWh in production. Hydroelectricity also saw a surge in 2023, marking its contribution to the country’s sustainable energy landscape.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources