Ireland: Renewable energy use grows 10 percent in 2014

According to provisional energy data for 2014 published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the consumption of renewable energy grew 10 percent in 2014.

The same data indicate that the use of fossil fuels fell 1.2 percent.

The total electricity generated from renewable sources amounted to 22.6 percent. The electricity generated from coal and peat was 23.1 percent.

Wind accounted for 18 percent 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, which had an effect of lowering the carbon intensity of electricity generation, measured in grams of CO2 per kW/h of electrical output, to a record low of 457 gCO2/kWh, SEAI’s press release reads.

The data also shows that primary energy use fell as the economy grew, continuing the process of decoupling, meaning that Irish economy is increasingly productive with the energy it uses.

Commenting on the figures, 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 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland was established as Ireland’s national energy authority under the Sustainable Energy Act 2002. SEAI’s mission is to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices.

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