Ireland
With a cumulative score of 2.43, Ireland ranks number 9 among developed markets and number 9 in the global ranking.
- Developed markets
- Europe
2.46 / 5
Power score
2.52 / 5
Transport score
2.26 / 5
Buildings score
Low-carbon strategy
Net-zero goal and strategy
Ireland adopted the European Climate Law, which sets into law the objective of collectively achieving “climate neutrality by 2050.”
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
Ireland is part of the EU's joint nationally determined contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. The updated NDC, submitted to the UNFCCC in 2021, pledges to reduce emissions by 55% before the end of 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
Fossil fuel phase-out policy
Ireland has a coal phase out by 2025 in place.
Power
Power policy
Under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) Ireland is committed to produce from renewable sources at least 16% of all energy consumed by 2020. Ireland has committed to meet this national target through 40% renewable electricity, 12% renewable heat and 10% renewable transport. In order to achieve this, Ireland has implemented auctions and a net metering scheme. The auctions scheme was implemented in 2020 to replace the feed-in tariff policy and has had one round so far. Those who participate in the net metering scheme must produce electricity locally and they will receive credit from the government toward their next electricity bill.
Power policies
Power prices and costs
Tariffs in all three sectors in Ireland increase annually. Consumers can opt to pay a day/night rate or a 24-hour rate.
Power market
Ireland’s electricity source is primarily natural gas. The country has been phasing out much of its coal capacity and adding significant amounts of wind. As renewable energy capacity increases, Ireland is installing batteries to decrease curtailment, although there is no official policy on this yet. The utility is completely unbundled.
Installed Capacity (in MW)
Electricity Generation (in GWh)
Utility privatisation
Which segments of the power sector are open to private participation?
Wholesale power market
Does the country have a wholesale power market?
Doing business and barriers
Ireland has a 100% electrification rate and a declining peak power, most likely due to Covid-19. Policies around interconnection and retail licenses are clear. Ireland also has a very balanced grid because the government took preemptive measures.
Currency of PPAs
Are PPAs signed in or indexed to U.S. Dollars or Euro?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Fossil fuel subsidies
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) down through subsidies?
Fossil fuel taxes
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) up through taxes?
Transport
EV market
Ireland set a clean transport target to accelerate the take up of electric vehicle (EV) cars and vans with an aim for EVs to comprise 100% of all new cars and vans by 2030. Additionally, the target aims to have 950,000 EVs on the road by 2030. Annual EV sales have grown about 9% from 2019 to 2020.
EV policy
Ireland also has set fuel economy standards that focus on requiring automakers to limit CO2 emissions from manufactured vehicles.
Transport policies
Fuel economy standards
Does the country have a fuel economy standard in place?
Buildings
Buildings market
Ireland is part of the EU’s legally-binding regional renewable energy target to meet 32% renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2030. Of this target, Ireland should aim to increase the share of renewables supplying heating and cooling energy consumption by 1.1-1.3 percentage points each year until 2030.
Energy performance standards
Are there minimum energy performance standards for buildings?
Energy efficiency plan
Does the country have a national energy efficiency plan?
Buildings policy
In Ireland, air source heat pump installations usually cost between 8,500 euros ($9,800) and 14,500 euros, depending on the size and power of the heat pump, how much hot water storage is required and whether the heat pump is controllable over the internet. The government provides grants for insulation, heating controls, and solar.
