At the heart of this mission lies a major push towards renewable energy sources, with the country targeting 80% electricity generation from renewables by 2030.
Currently, Ireland remains one of the most energy import-dependent countries in the European Union (EU), with nearly 83% of its energy needs met by fossil fuels in 2023. In comparison, the figure for EU stood at 69%.
Going forward, Ireland stands to gain significantly from these renewable investments – not only by reducing its dependency on fossil fuel imports but also by lowering its CO2 emissions and vulnerability to energy shocks.
Strategic pillars of Ireland’s energy policy overhaul
Energy policy in Ireland is primarily driven by its climate objectives, which act as a national roadmap towards decarbonisation. Here’s a quick snapshot of the main pillars shaping both strategy and investment.
- 22 GW of renewable energy capacity: As outlined in its Climate Action Plan (CAP), Ireland aims to install 22 gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity capacity, with the goal of generating 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. This includes a mix of 9 GW of onshore wind, 5 GW of offshore wind, and 8 GW of solar-PV capacity.
- Offshore wind expansion: Ireland is already a global leader in onshore wind, with wind farms providing almost one-third of the island’s electricity in 2024. Building on this success, energy policy in Ireland now focuses on offshore wind, targeting 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 and an ambitious 37 GW by 2050.
- Scaling solar and bioenergy: The adoption of solar energy is on the rise with over 100,000 rooftop microgenerators now connected to Ireland’s electricity network, contributing over 400MW of clean energy to the power system. The target is to achieve 8 GW of solar capacity by 2030. Ireland is also ramping up the use of biofuels to decarbonise its transport sector, which remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels. According to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, targets include a 10% bio-fuel blend in petrol and 12% in diesel by 2025, increasing to 20% in diesel by 2030.
- Electrification of transport and heat: Electrification of transport remains another core component of Ireland’s energy policy, with a goal of having almost 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. Given transport is one of the most carbon-intensive sectors, increasing renewable energy share in transport is key to meeting national climate targets. The National Retrofit Plan supports a switch to heat pumps and other clean heating systems in homes and businesses. The CAP aims to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and the install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace less efficient heating systems by the end of 2030.
- Grid modernisation and energy storage: Achieving high renewable penetration will require significant grid upgrades, more interconnectors with Europe, and the expansion of battery storage to manage supply fluctuations.
Building Ireland’s energy resilience
Given Ireland’s high import dependency for energy in the EU, the country is prone to external price shocks and geopolitical risks, such as those highlighted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 2024 International Energy Agency (IEA) energy policy review noted that most of Ireland’s natural gas imports come from the United Kingdom via the twin interconnector pipelines originating at one entry point in Moffat, Scotland – posing a cluster risk to gas security. The absence of domestic gas storage was also identified as a significant vulnerability.
By accelerating renewable energy development – especially offshore wind and solar – Ireland aims to bolster its energy independence and reduce exposure to energy shocks.
Major infrastructure projects like the Celtic Interconnector – linking Ireland and France are key to diversifying energy sources and improving grid resilience.
Additionally, Ireland is advancing policy initiatives on energy storage, demand response and hydrogen to ensure renewable supply remains balanced and reliable. Cybersecurity is also a focus, with directives such as Critical Entities Resilience and NIS2 being implemented to protect energy infrastructure from cyber threats.
FAQs: Energy Policy in Ireland
What is Ireland’s energy policy goal?Ireland aims to cut emissions by 51% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050 through renewables.
What level of renewable electricity is Ireland aiming for by 2030?
Ireland targets 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Why is renewable energy important for Ireland’s economy?
It reduces import costs, cuts emissions, and attracts green investment and jobs.
What is the Celtic Interconnector project?
It’s a planned electricity link between Ireland and France to enhance energy security.