Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
91. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of the percentage of renewable electricity that was generated from renewable fuel sources; the percentage of renewable electricity that was generated from fossil fuel sources; the breakdown of imported electricity, by fuel source, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34355/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has made considerable progress in decarbonising our electricity sector over the last decade, with a major reason for this being the construction of renewable generation sources and their successful integration onto the electricity grid. Over the last ten years, Ireland’s wind energy output has increased by 157%.
DECC do not hold information on the breakdown of the percentage of renewable electricity. Data regarding Ireland's electricity generation is available to view on the SEAI website: www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/
The table below sets out a breakdown of fuel sources provided from SEAI:
|
Electricity Generated/Supplied by Source |
Group |
% |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Gas |
Fossil |
% |
51.0% |
45.7% |
48.8% |
44.3% |
|
Wind |
Renewable |
% |
36.3% |
29.5% |
33.1% |
33.7% |
|
Coal |
Fossil |
% |
2.1% |
8.2% |
7.0% |
3.5% |
|
Peat |
Fossil |
% |
2.9% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
0.4% |
|
Oil |
Fossil |
% |
1.2% |
4.4% |
3.2% |
0.7% |
|
Hydro |
Renewable |
% |
2.9% |
2.3% |
2.1% |
2.7% |
|
Landfill gas |
Renewable |
% |
0.4% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.3% |
|
Biomass |
Renewable |
% |
1.4% |
1.4% |
1.5% |
1.0% |
|
Renewable wastes |
Renewable |
% |
1.0% |
1.1% |
1.0% |
1.0% |
|
Biogas |
Renewable |
% |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.2% |
|
Solar |
Renewable |
% |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
1.9% |
|
Wastes Non-Renewable |
Other |
% |
0.9% |
1.0% |
0.9% |
0.9% |
|
Electricity (net imports) |
Other |
% |
-0.5% |
4.8% |
0.7% |
9.5% |
|
Total |
Total |
% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
The data for 2024-to-date is not currently available in the same level of detail, however indicative data published by the SEAI this month shows that emissions from the electricity sector in the first half of 2024 were down 17.2% with almost half of utility scale generation being renewable and interconnector imports in the first half of 2024 accounting for 14.4% of Ireland's utility scale electricity supply.
SEAI do not hold data on the breakdown of electricity imports by source which is driven by the generation technology mix and market conditions in the relevant interconnected jurisdictions.
