Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

319 Chapter 12: Environment and Energy 7. Total final energy consumption Some of Ireland’s primary energy is transformed into different forms of useful energy using a range of processes (e.g. electricity generation and oil refining) before being used by final energy users. Much of the energy (46% in 2022) used to generate electricity is ‘lost’ as waste heat in thermal power plants during generation and as distribution losses in the electricity grid. For this reason, the 164 TWh of total primary energy in 2023 became 141 TWh of total final consumption (TFC) of energy, which represents the total energy delivered to final users. TFC in Ireland grew by 1%, despite TPER reducing by 1.7%, pointing to an efficiency increase in the overall energy system. Over the past 20 years, Ireland’s TFC peaked in 2008, as shown in Figure 12.8. Energy demand subsequently reduced during the economic recession and then increased in all sectors but remains below 2008 levels. Figure 12.8  Total final energy consumption in Ireland by sector, 2003-2022 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000  Transport  Residential  Industry  Services  Agriculture & Fisheries Total final consumption in ktoe 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 Source: SEAI, 2023 The transport sector dominates TFC in Ireland, accounting for a 41.3% share in 2022. Heating is also significant, accounting for 36.5% of TFC, comprising space and water heating in homes and in commercial and public buildings, in addition to thermal energy for manufacturing in industry. According to SEAI’s national heat study (SEAI, 2022), heat demand is expected to rise over the next 20 years, and the deployment of energy efficiency measures in all sectors is not projected to sufficiently offset the impact of economic and population growth. New buildings also drive the growth in heat demand in the services sector. In the industry sector, heat demand grows in line with projections of increased economic activity.