Powering Ireland\u2019s Energy Future: Approaches for a secure, renewables-led electricity system to 2035<\/a> \u2013 explores how the country can build on recent progress to advance electrification while addressing emerging electricity security risks to safeguard system stability and affordability.<\/p>\nIreland has emerged as a global frontrunner in the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Wind power supplied around a third of Ireland\u2019s electricity in 2024, four times the global average and second only to Denmark among countries with gigawatt-scale power systems. The new IEA report assesses ways in which Ireland can ensure its electricity sector can evolve to meet rising demand and the country\u2019s long-term energy and climate objectives, while managing new challenges associated with more variable power supply.<\/p>\n
The report is being launched today on the occasion of a meeting between Ireland\u2019s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh\u00a0O’Brien and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol at the IEA headquarters in Paris to discuss Ireland\u2019s power system outlook and future priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland has shown that an island-based power system can successfully integrate very high shares of variable electricity generation while maintaining a focus on energy security,\u201d said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. \u201cAs electricity demand grows strongly in the coming decade, this report highlights how coordinated planning, timely investment and continued innovation in power grids can help Ireland make progress on its electrification ambitions, as well as on its energy security, affordability and emissions reduction goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland is delighted to have partnered with the IEA for the publication of this important and timely report, which contains key policy recommendations not just for Ireland, but for all countries who are accelerating the green energy transition. Energy security is a global challenge which requires global cooperation and dialogue,\u201d said Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh\u00a0O’Brien. \u201cI look forward to discussing the report\u2019s findings in more detail with our international partners, as we face the shared challenge of building more secure, sustainable and affordable energy systems for future generations. Ireland is proud to continue to support the IEA\u2019s critical work, and I would like to thank the IEA for leading the analysis, especially all of those who contributed to its development.\u201d<\/p>\n
To support decision makers, the report explores how Ireland\u2019s electricity supply could expand to meet rising demand driven by the electrification of heat and transport, as well as growth in housing and digital infrastructure such as data centres. It illustrates the multifaceted challenge of meeting rising electricity demand while reducing emissions and maintaining secure and reliable power supply.<\/p>\n
According to the report, the electrification of heating and transport could significantly reduce Ireland\u2019s annual fuel import bill by almost 3 billion euros. Achieving these benefits will depend on addressing upfront costs and ensuring that pricing, tariffs and system design support efficient electrification while aligning new demand with renewable generation. An ongoing focus on electricity security will also be crucial.<\/p>\n
The report also underscores the growing importance of grid infrastructure and system operations, noting that achieving Ireland\u2019s goals will require timely grid investment and increased flexibility. At the same time, it highlights how Ireland\u2019s experience offers valuable insights for countries worldwide seeking to balance strong demand growth with increasing shares of variable renewable electricity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New IEA report shows how with strategic planning, Ireland can achieve its electrification ambitions while safeguarding energy security…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":197972,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[2036,61,60,43],"class_list":["post-197971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-electricity","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/197972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}