Over the past 12 months, from August 2024 to July 2025, Ireland's electricity consumption profile reflects a balanced mix of fossil and low-carbon energy sources. Fossil fuels, encompassing coal, oil, and notably gas, collectively contribute to nearly 44% of the electricity supply, with gas alone accounting for more than 39%. On the low-carbon side, clean energy represents about 41% of the mix, with wind energy providing nearly a third of the total electricity consumed. Other low-carbon contributions include solar at a modest 4%, biofuels, and hydropower each below 3%. Net imports constitute around 15%, likely a blend of various energy types, adding to the country's energy portfolio. The presence of both fossil and low-carbon energies indicates the potential and necessity for Ireland to further transition towards greener electricity solutions.
Is Electricity Growing in Ireland?
Ireland's electricity consumption per person has shown a positive trend, reaching 6917 kWh in 2025, which marks an increase from the previous peak of 6763 kWh in 2008. This growth signifies a 154 kWh rise, underscoring the nation's expanding electricity needs. Impressively, low-carbon electricity generation has seen an uplift as well, with a per capita production of 2837 kWh, outperforming the previous record of 2713 kWh set in 2023 by 124 kWh. This increased reliance on clean energy is promising, indicating a clear shift towards sustainable energy sources. Yet, with growing expectations of electricity demand due to factors like technological advances and electrification, continuous growth in low-carbon capacity is essential.
Suggestions
To further boost low-carbon electricity generation, Ireland should focus on expanding its wind energy capabilities, already a significant contributor to the electricity mix. Learning from successful regions can guide this growth; for instance, Denmark has achieved impressive results with wind making up 57% of its electricity. Additionally, Ireland can gain insights from solar advancements as seen in Lebanon and Nevada, with solar accounting for 31% and 29% of their generation, respectively. Furthermore, the introduction of nuclear energy could offer a substantial and reliable clean energy source, as practiced by countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear makes up the majority of their electricity supply. Adopting similar strategies could propel Ireland towards a fully sustainable energy future.
History
Historically, Ireland's journey towards low-carbon electricity has been primarily marked by wind energy developments. In the early 2000s, Ireland steadily increased wind power, with notable increments each year, such as a 0.5 TWh increase in 2005 and 2006. The 2010s saw periods of heightened growth, particularly in 2011 and 2020, where wind saw substantial gains of 1.6 and 2.2 TWh, respectively. However, there were some fluctuations with slight reductions in wind power in specific years like 2012 and 2016. Despite these occasional dips, the strategic focus on wind has generally resulted in upward momentum. The recent inclusion of solar energy in 2023, with a contribution of 0.5 TWh, marks another step forward in diversifying Ireland's clean energy mix. This history of steady growth, especially in wind energy, underlines Ireland's potential to continue enhancing its green energy landscape.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.