Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

321 Chapter 12: Environment and Energy 9. Looking ahead Decarbonisation of electricity generation has been a key measure in successive climate action plans, with the end of peat’s use as a fuel for electricity generation in 2023 and the use of coal at Moneypoint to be phased out at the end of 2025. Significant growth in renewable energy is required to meet Ireland’s future demands for electricity, requiring a transformation of power system operation to achieve the flexibility required to incorporate the growth in renewables while maintaining power system security. Table 12.1 summarises some of Ireland’s renewable generation and system flexibility ambitions over the next ten years. Wind energy Ireland currently has 4.6 GW of installed wind generation capacity (over 99% of which is onshore) (SEAI, 2023). Ireland’s CAP24 targets a 50% renewable energy share of electricity generation by 2025 and an 80% share by 2030 (DECC, 2024a). This will require increasing onshore wind capacity to 6 GW in 2025 and to 9 GW in 2030 and an offshore wind capacity of 5 GW by 2030. Table 12.1  Some key metrics to deliver reduced emissions from electricity generation THEME ACCELERATE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION ACCELERATE FLEXIBILITY 2025 KPIs ■ 50% renewable electricity share of demand ■ 6 GW onshore wind capacity ■ Up to 5 GW solar photovoltaic capacity ■ Maximum level of renewables at any one time on the grid: 85% ■ Minimise surplus generation ■ Required long-term storage (4 hours plus) in place 2030 KPIs ■ 80% renewable electricity share of demand ■ 9 GW onshore wind capacity and at least 5 GW offshore wind capacity ■ 8 GW solar photovoltaic capacity ■ Maximum level of renewables at any one time on the grid: 95-100% ■ Minimise surplus generation ■ Required long-term storage (4 hours plus) in place ■ At least 2 GW of new flexible gas-fired generation ■ Zero emission gas-fired generation from biomethane and hydrogen commencing by 2030 2031-2035 measures ■ Decarbonisation roadmap for net zero power system ■ Green hydrogen production via 2 GW offshore wind ■ Required additional duration storage technologies in place ■ Increased zero emission gas-fired generation to enable a net zero power system KPI, key performance indicator Source: DECC, 2023b