There was some good news for the State’s energy transition in the most recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on greenhouse gas emissions for 2024. The provisional findings indicate that energy industries emissions decreased for the third consecutive year by 8.9 per cent (-0.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) during 2024 to an all-time low of 7.2 Mt CO2eq. This was principally due to the large share of energy generation coming from renewables (39.6 per cent), an increase in the share of imported electricity to 14 per cent and the cessation of peat-fired electricity generation.
However, the share accounted for by renewables needs to more than double to 80 per cent by 2030 if Government climate action targets are to be met. This goal is ambitious, considering the hurdles in the expansion of wind and solar infrastructure, according to James Delahunt, head of energy and natural resources with KPMG in Ireland.
“Challenges include planning delays, regulatory complexities along with grid capacity and operational constraints,” says Delahunt. “To accelerate development, streamlining the planning process is crucial. National and local political leadership, enhancing investment incentives and ensuring robust community engagement can build social acceptance for these projects.
“Furthermore, upgrading grid infrastructure to handle increased renewable input and at the same time meeting the demand for renewable electricity from corporations seeking to transition away from fossil fuels will bolster efforts. Leveraging technological advancements in energy storage solutions will also be key to overcoming intermittency issues and ensuring reliability in a cleaner energy future.”
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Pinergy head of energy services Philip Connor believes the target is achievable but efforts to reach it are under significant pressure due to project delivery bottlenecks.
“According to the Pinergy Energy Transition Outlook: Ireland, developed in partnership with Wood Mackenzie, renewables are forecast to contribute 80 per cent of generated electricity by 2030, rising to 93 per cent by 2050,” he says. “Wind alone could supply up to 77 per cent but current trends suggest this outcome is far from guaranteed.”
Offshore wind is the standout risk, according to Connor. “Ireland is now 4GW short of its 5GW 2030 offshore wind target due to planning delays, port capacity issues and grid connection constraints.”
He says action in several key areas is vital to get back on track. “The grid must be upgraded to accommodate variable renewables; 4.7GW of energy storage is required by 2030 to maintain system balance and avoid curtailment. Slow, fragmented approval processes are delaying renewables. Strategic projects need priority treatment and streamlined oversight. Ireland needs to build the industrial base of ports, cranes, vessels and skills to deliver on its offshore ambition.”
Electrification of demand is also critical. “Without matching electric vehicle (EV) and heat pump adoption, the new renewable generation won’t displace fossil energy at the point of use,” says Connor. “Pinergy is helping address these gaps through smart metering, EV infrastructure support and customer-facing digital energy tools that enable demand flexibility and smarter consumption.”
On that last note, the EPA expects 640,000 EVs to be on the roads by 2030, well short of the 940,000 target but it will still place a strain on the electricity grid. “The increased demand from these additional EVs is expected to be equivalent to the output of four new power plants the size of Ardnacrusha,” says Gerry Cash, director of regulatory affairs with Easygo. “Proactive planning and investment will be critical to supporting this transition to electrified transport.”
A range of strategic measures are being implemented to accelerate the delivery of grid infrastructure, says Delahunt: “The Accelerating Renewable Electricity (ARE) Taskforce has introduced nearly 70 actions aimed at streamlining planning, fast-tracking grid projects, and improving co-ordination among authorities.
“ESB Networks and EirGrid investment plans for Price Review 6 (PR6) include a range of grid reinforcement projects and the integration of smart grid technologies to enhance capacity and flexibility.”
More needs to be done, however. “Upgrades to onshore transmission infrastructure must be delivered to support offshore connections and interconnectors,” says Delahunt. “This onshore and offshore infrastructure must be delivered in parallel. Operational practices must be reformed including implementing EirGrid’s operational roadmap to 2030 and the ESB Networks National Network Local Connections programme ensuring that flexibility markets are in place.”
On the demand side, Cash notes that the State will require more than 6,300 fast-charging points, significantly more than the 1,722 currently available, to support anticipated EV numbers in 2030.
“In addition to the fast-charging points, our analysis indicates that over 28,000 slow chargers will be needed, a more than fivefold increase from the 5,236 charge points currently in operation. To achieve this significant scale-up in infrastructure, it is vital that government agencies work closely with us and other private-sector stakeholders. Greater collaboration will ensure that infrastructure deployment strategies are agile, effective and responsive to the real needs of EV users across Ireland.”
Easygo is also working on a number of pilot projects aimed at addressing the needs of EV owners who do not have access to home charging points. “We are collaborating with the Department of Transport to develop a Shared Charging Initiative. This programme is currently in the pilot phase, operating in three communities: Dingle, Kilcock and the combined urban areas of Phibsborough, Cabra and Stoneybatter. Expansion of this pilot will be essential to meet future demand.”
Pinergy’s Connor says Ireland’s decarbonisation depends on rapid electrification and energy efficiency across heat, transport, and buildings.
“Ireland’s energy transition is still within reach, but the next five years will determine whether we deliver on our commitments or defer the cost to the next generation,” he says. “At Pinergy, we’re focused on making energy work better for people today, while building the foundation for a cleaner system tomorrow.”
Delahunt concludes by calling for another measure to promote the adoption of heat pumps and other electrical solutions for heating. “Reducing the cost of heat produced from renewable electricity when compared to fossil fuels, which is called the spark gap, is crucial to widespread adoption by corporate and domestic consumers alike.”
