Construction BUSINESS

18^th May, 2015 – Renewable energy use in Ireland increased by 10% in 2014 while consumption of fossil fuels fell 1.2%.  That is according to provisional energy data for 2014 published today by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).   The data also shows that primary energy use fell as the economy grew, continuing the process of decoupling, meaning our economy is increasingly productive with the energy it uses.

Wind accounted for 18% of electricity generated and was the second most significant source of electricity after natural gas.  Total renewable electricity share now contributes nearly as much as coal and peat combined.  This had the effect of lowering the carbon intensity of electricity generation, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour of electrical output, to a record low of 457gCO₂/kWh.

Commenting on the figures Dr Eimear Cotter, SEAI Head of Low Carbon Technologies said “These figures show that Ireland is on the right path towards a lower carbon energy system with less energy needed to maintain and even grow economic output.  The timely publication of these figures for 2014 is part of the continuing focus by SEAI to provide high quality and accessible information to inform policy and decision-making”.

Provisional Energy Balance Highlights

• Overall primary energy fell by 0.4% while the economy (GDP) grew by 4.8%
• Overall primary use of renewable energy increased by 10%
• Primary consumption of fossil fuels fell in 2014 by 1.2%
• Import dependency fell to 85.5% in 2014 from 89% in 2013
• Energy CO₂ emissions fell by 0.8% (-1.0% if aviation is excluded)
• 6% of electricity was generated from renewable sources
• Wind accounted for 18.3% of electricity generated and was the second most significant source of electricity after natural gas at 45.8%
• Renewables in total generated almost as much electricity as coal and peat combined in 2014 (22.6% compared with 23.1% for coal and peat)
• CO₂ intensity of electricity reached a new low of 457 g CO₂/kWh in 2014