Renewable energy resources are abundantly available in Ireland. The main sources are:

1.     The sun (solar energy)
2.     The wind
3.     Water (hydropower, wave and tidal energy)
4.     Heat below the surface of the earth (geothermal energy)
5.     Biomass (wood, waste, energy crops).

However, only a fraction of these resources have been tapped so far. They offer sustainable alternatives to our dependency on fossil fuels as well as a means of reducing harmful greenhouse emissions and opportunities to reduce our reliance on imported fuels.

Renewable energy resources are constantly replenished through the cycles of nature - their supply will never be exhausted. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are finite resources. They will become increasingly scarce and expensive to extract and supplies will become concentrated in politically volatile areas of the world before reserves are finally exhausted.

A gradual shift towards using renewable energy would mean:

    reduced CO2 emissions

    secure and stable energy supply for the long term

    reduced reliance on expensive fuel imports

    investment and employment in our indigenous renewable energy projects, often in rural and underdeveloped areas

In 2009, renewable energy sources met approximately 4.9% of Ireland’s total energy requirement. This figure breaks down as follows:

    4.2% of heat demand

    14.1% of electricity demand

    1.8% of transport demand

4.9% renewable sourced energy led to carbon dioxide savings of 3 million tonnes.

The Government targets for renewable penetration into each energy market are as follows:

    5% of heat demand

    15% of electricity demand

    3% of transport demand

Ireland has a European set-out target of 13.2% of electricity demand by 2010. This was raised voluntarily by the Irish Government due to potential for wind energy to be developed over the short term.

The national target prescribed the European Renewables Directive is for Ireland to source 16% of all energy consumed from renewable sources. It is up to each member state to decide how the overall target is met by each energy sector.

Therefore, the Government targets for renewable penetration into each energy market are as follows:

    12% of heat demand

    40% of electricity demand

    10% of transport demand

Forecasts predict that if each of the above percentages are achieved we will be sourcing 16% of our energy from renewable sources and will have reduced our dependence on energy imports substantially. In 2009 Ireland imported 89% of its energy needs, the vast majority of which were fossil fuels.

Source: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 2011

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