In this first part of the 2024 Annual Review, the Climate Change Advisory Council outlines detailed observations and recommendations for the Electricity sector Ireland needs to reduce and ultimately prevent emissions of greenhouse gases. To stay within the agreed carbon budget, the Electricity sector needs to achieve the largest reduction in sectoral emissions of all sectors: a 75% decrease by 2030 compared with 2018.
In 2023, emissions from the sector fell by just over a fifth from 2022 to the lowest level since records began in 1990. This was driven by a considerable decline in the use of coal for electricity generation, coupled with a notable rise in imported electricity. Generation from renewable sources increased slightly, primarily driven by solar power, but it remains significantly below the annual increase needed to meet growing demand and simultaneously satisfy 2030 targets for emission reductions. Delays and appeals in the planning process for onshore wind projects in particular are significantly hindering progress.
