EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 12: The Environment and Energy 4. Energy Consumption in Ireland Combustion of mainly imported fossil fuels made up 89 per cent of Ireland’s total energy use in 2018. Locally produced renewable energy made up about 10 per cent of energy used. Since the formation of the state, energy consumption 4 in Ireland has increased substantially as our population has grown, our technologies have advanced, and our economic activity has increased. Energy consumption data from 1990 to 2018 are shown in Figure 12.1. These data show that peak energy consumption occurred in 2008, at 190,116 megawatt-hours (MWh). Fossil energy, including coal, oil and peat combustion, made up 96 per cent of the energy consumed. Renewable energy contributed just 4 per cent of the energy consumed (SEAI, 2019a). Energy demand dropped significantly during the financial crisis but has been increasing since 2014 as economic activity has increased. In 2018, energy consumption in Ireland was 170,414 MWh. This remains lower than in 2008 while economic activity, as measured by gross domestic product, was 8.2 per cent and higher than before the economic crisis. Energy efficiency policy and actions are likely to have contributed to these changes on the energy demand side. Figure 12.1  Energy consumption (MWh) according to the main fuel types in Ireland from 1990 to 2018 (Source: SEAI) 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 180,000 200,000 Oil Gas Renewables Coal Peat Year Waste Electricity Imports 4 Here, primary energy consumption means total energy consumed including energy lost in generation, processing and transmission, which is not available to consumers. This lost energy makes up about 18 per cent of the total consumed energy. In 2018, combustion of fossil fuels made up 89 per cent of Ireland’s total energy use. Renewable energy, including biomass, made up 10 per cent, with the residual 1 per cent being non-renewable waste. This percentage of renewable energy has increased significantly relative to 2008 but remains low compared with the European average of just under 20 per cent. 5 Taking fossil energy out of Ireland’s energy system by 2050 would require an annual increase in renewable energy use of 2-3 per cent of total energy use. Current Energy Use in Key Sectors Fossil energy use is consistently Ireland’s largest greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide) source and the main source for a number of key air pollutants. The impacts of energy use vary across sectors and energy type. Location and timing can vary, resulting in different exposure profiles. A summary of the main energy uses in 2018 is shown in Table 12.1, along with the emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants. In 2018, most energy was used in transport, with 94 per cent of this being provided by the direct consumption of fossil fuels. Heating was the second largest energy use, with oil and gas being the main energy types used. Electrical power generation consumed about 31 per cent of total primary energy. Owing to losses, about 20 per cent is available for use by customers (SEAI, 2019a). 5 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index. php?title=File:Share_of_energy_from_renewable_sources_2018_ infograph.jpg 309