Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
137. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he is taking to reduce Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27492/26]
View answerThe 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' strategy set out a clear vision to move away from reliance on imported fossil fuels to an electricity-led energy system. The recent global energy shocks have made clear the need to implement this vision to ensure the security of our energy system. Delivery of our ambitious renewable and electrification targets set out in the Climate Action Plan will be key in this regard.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland's flagship scheme to support the deployment of new renewable generation projects. The five RESS auctions held to date have been instrumental in providing a supportive policy and investment environment for renewables in Ireland, enhancing Ireland’s energy security and the diversity of our electricity supply. Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the network, with approximately 5 GW of new renewable electricity generation capacity added in just ten years, including doubling our wind capacity and establishing solar energy as a major pillar of our energy supply. The next auction, RESS 6, is scheduled to take place in the second half of this year.
Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations for onshore wind and solar were included in the First Revision of the National Planning Framework, published in April 2025. The inclusion of these allocations is a critical step towards achieving Ireland’s national renewable electricity targets and will support a plan-led approach to the strategic planning of renewable technologies.
On the electricity grid, increasing amounts of batteries, long duration storage, interconnector capacity and demand side response have also been procured in recent capacity market auctions which will lessen Ireland's dependence on fossil fuel imports in the coming years.
The variable nature of some renewable technologies currently requires dispatchable gas generation to ensure security of supply. The Government has set a target of 5.7 TWh of indigenous biomethane by 2030, reducing reliance on gas imported from the UK. The Biomethane Implementation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy and delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to support development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.
In the medium-term, renewable hydrogen is anticipated to play a key role in our future energy system. The SEAI’s Decarbonised Electricity System Study, which is due to be published by the end of the year, will be a significant step in defining the role that renewable hydrogen should play in our power system.
