Ireland’s energy emissions at their lowest rate in 30 years but faster rate of change and delivery needed to ensure we meet targets

• Ireland’s national energy-related emissions in 2023 were down 8.3% on 2022, at their lowest level in over 30 years.  
• Highest proportion of renewables in Ireland’s energy mix on record 
• Signals of progress evident, pace and delivery must build exponentially now 
• Emissions reductions driven by electricity and heat sectors 
• Energy targets for renewable energy deployment and energy demand levels likely to be missed 
• Early 2024 data suggests that residential demand for gas and heating oil is increasing, indicating that residential emissions may go up in 2024 

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) today published the Energy in Ireland 2024 report. This report provides the definitive national data underpinning trends in the supply and demand of energy and related emissions up to 2023 and provides initial provisional estimates for 2024. National energy related emissions decreased by 8.3% in 2023 reaching their lowest level in thirty years. The data shows good signals of progress, but Ireland will have to increase the rate of change significantly to deliver on its legally binding targets.  

Ireland’s total energy demand increased by 0.8% in 2023, led mainly by increased energy demand for transport (up 4.5%) and from the commercial services sector (up 6.9%), which includes data centre demand. Increased demand for transport energy came mainly from private car use and aviation, which accounted for 40% and 22% respectively.  

In the residential sector, demand for gas, coal, peat, electricity, and oil all dropped in 2023, with energy demand reaching its lowest level in 25 years. Multiple factors are likely to have played a role in this including a reduced need for home heating due to a warmer winter, high energy prices and increased home energy upgrades.   

The data shows that 2023 was a record year for renewables in our energy mix, which contributed to our emissions reduction. The impact of this was somewhat balanced by demand growth, meaning that despite the reduction in energy-related emissions, at 82.7% Ireland remains highly dependent on fossil fuels to satisfy our energy needs. It is clear from the data that the pace of growth of energy demand needs to be strategically managed and timed, so that calculated decisions are made about where and when growth should happen.  

There is no room for complacency as, despite progress in 2023, early 2024 data suggests that residential demand for gas and heating oil increased this year, indicating that residential energy demand and emissions may go up in 2024. It is also likely that Ireland’s transport and electricity emissions will exceed their sectoral emission ceiling in the first carbon budget (2021-2025). Any emissions that exceed the first carbon budget are carried over into the second carbon budget, where they will need to be addressed by even more intensive policies and measures.  

Recent reports indicate that Ireland could face considerable fines for not delivering on its climate commitments. With effort, investment and national support to speed up deployment of offshore wind, solar, district heating, heat pumps and electric vehicles – Ireland can transform the rate of technology deployment to boost climate action. 

Speaking about the Energy in Ireland report, CEO of SEAI, William Walsh said: 

“This year’s data includes a number of welcome achievements in terms of renewables and emissions reductions. The question now is do these signals mark the start of a tipping point for critical mass action in our national energy transition. We need bold, courageous and committed leadership nationally and across all sectors to avoid missing our non-negotiable carbon budgets and EU targets.  

Acting immediately is essential; we can see already that concerted effort and actions deliver results. It’s not just the end goal of emission reductions by 2030 or 2050 that matter, but reducing our emissions each and every year, to comply with science-based carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings. These are our non-negotiables. 

Thanks to Government support and the efforts of many citizens and businesses over the last few years, we are seeing progress. The changes we are making make a difference. Ireland has set a strong legal basis and significant momentum that we now must capitalise on. The incoming Government comes at a time where a re-doubling of effort could see us realising the urgent change needed in our shift away from fossil fuels. 

The challenge seems difficult, but we must remind ourselves of the benefits if we succeed – cleaner air, less energy poverty, enhanced energy security, and a safer, habitable planet for our children” 

SEAI offers a range of Government funded supports for householders, businesses, and communities who want to reduce their fossil fuel use, including grants for home energy upgrades, electric vehicles, and energy upgrades to businesses and community buildings. For information on these supports and advice on how to reduce your energy bills, visit seai.ie.    

For the full Energy in Ireland report, please see here. 

Energy in Ireland key messages by sector 

Energy-related Emissions 

• Ireland’s national energy-related emissions in 2023 were at their lowest level in over 30 years. 
• Energy-related emissions in 2023 were 31.4 MtCO2eq, down 8.3% on 2022 levels. 
• Electricity accounted for 24.1% of energy emissions, transport for 37.6% and heat for 38.3%. 
• 2023 heat emissions were 12.0 MtCO2eq, the lowest on record, having fallen 3-years in a row. 
• 2023 transport emissions were 11.8 MtCO2eq, 0.3% higher than in 2022. 
• 2023 electricity emissions were 7.6 MtCO2eq, the lowest on record, down 22.0% on 2022-levels. 

 Renewable Energy 

• 14.1% of Ireland’s primary energy was renewable in 2023 – the highest value to date. 
• Ireland used 1.61 TWh more renewable energy in 2023 than in 2022. 
• Over three-quarters of renewable energy used in 2023 came from wind, biodiesel, and biomass. 
• In 2023, Ireland’s RES-Overall result was 15.3%, up from 13.1% in 2022. 
• Ireland’s RES-Overall result is amongst the lowest in Europe, and below our 2020 16% baseline target. 

 Overall Energy Demand 

• End-user energy demand in Ireland increased by 1.11 TWh in 2023, up 0.8% on 2022-levels. 
• 140.8 TWh of energy was directly consumed by Irish end-users in 2023. 
• 55.6% of all energy consumed in Ireland was oil products, mainly diesel, petrol, and heating oils. 
• Electricity accounted for 22.4% of energy consumption in 2023. 
• The transport sector is the largest consumer of energy, accounting for 43.4% of energy demand in 2023. 

 Transport Demand 

• Demand for transport energy increased by 2.61 TWh in 2023, up 4.5% on 2022-levels. 
• Energy demand for international aviation increased by 12.9% in 2023. 
• Energy demand from private car use increased by 5.0% in 2023. 
• Overall, 94.0% of Ireland’s transport energy came from fossil fuels in 2023.In 2023 biofuels accounted for 8.5% of energy in road diesel, and 4.2% of energy in road petrol. 

Electricity Demand 

• Electricity demand in Ireland rose by 1.24 TWh in 2023. 
• Commercial services, which include data centres, accounted for 41.2% of electricity demand. 
• The residential sector accounted for 25.6% of electricity demand in 2023. 
• Data centres accounted for 20.1% of all electricity demand in 2023. 

 Electricity Supply 

• 44.3% of Ireland’s gross electricity supply came from natural gas in 2023. 
• Wind generation provided 33.7% of electricity supply in 2023. 
• Ireland generated 11.7 TWh of renewable energy from wind generation – a new record. 
• Net-imported electricity accounted for 9.5% of electricity supply in 2023. 

 Heat Demand 

• Heat demand fell by 2.64 TWh in 2023, with reductions across all economic sectors. 
• 90.2% of Ireland’s heat demand was satisfied using fossil fuels in 2023. 
• Ireland’s use of renewable energy in heat demand has increased from 5.2% in 2013 to 8.0% in 2023. 
• Ambient heat captured by heat-pumps accounted for 28.9% of all renewable heat. 

About SEAI

SEAI is Ireland’s national energy authority investing in, and delivering, appropriate, effective, and sustainable solutions to help Ireland’s transition to a clean energy future. We work with Government, homeowners, businesses, and communities to achieve this, through expertise, funding, educational programmes, policy advice, research, and the development of new technologies. 

SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. 

Background and Timing of Release  

SEAI publishes the interim national energy balance annually in early May to provide details on the supply and transformation of Ireland’s national energy portfolio in the previous year. SEAI publishes the full national energy balance annually in early September, which builds on the interim data by adding details on how Ireland’s energy demand is apportioned over different sectors of the economy, e.g. the residential, commercial, and transport sectors.  

 The full national energy balance is a key input to the EPA’s greenhouse gas inventory and to tracking Ireland’s progress against its carbon budgets. The full national energy balance is also the primary data-source for determining Ireland’s progress against multiple European renewable energy share (RES) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) targets.  

 Statisticians at SEAI carry-out hundreds of energy supplier surveys every year and blend these statistical returns with public administrative data from the CSO, EPA, Revenue Commissioners, Road Safety Authority, and others to create a coherent and self-consistent national record on energy.