Country Overview
The Republic of Ireland is bordered by the North Channel, Irish Sea, St. George’s Channel and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). The population of Ireland is approximately 5.06 million people.
In 2022, Ireland’s economy was ranked 25th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s economy is dependent on the export of vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins, cultures, packaged medicaments, nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, integrated circuits, nucleic acids, hormones, and sulfonamides.
Environmental Policies
In 2009, Ireland as a member of the European Union (EU) committed to the “Renewable Energy Directive,” which requires each country to use renewable energy for 27% of its total energy needs by 2030.
In 2016, Ireland as a member of the EU signed the “Paris Climate Agreement”. The EU committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emission by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 100% of the people in Ireland had access to electricity. In 2022, utilities used natural gas (49.2%), renewable energy (38.6%), coal (7.4 %), and oil (4.8%) to generate electricity in Ireland. Wind is the dominant type of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Ireland.
Recent renewable energy projects in Ireland include:
- 1,500 MW Offshore Wind Project – French company, EDF Renewables and Norwegian company, Fred. Olsen Seawind are continuing work on the Codling Wind Project, which is located approximately 20 miles off the coast of Wicklow County in eastern Ireland. The project is forecast to be commissioned by 2025.
- 900 MW Offshore Wind Project – Irish renewable energy company, Saorgus Energy is continuing work on the Dublin Array offshore wind project, which is located approximately 6 miles off the coast of Dublin County in eastern Ireland. The project is forecast to be commissioned by 2027.
- 400 MW Offshore Wind Project – British renewable energy company, Green Investment Group is continuing work on the Sceirde Rocks offshore wind project, which is located approximately 5 miles off the coast of Galway county in western Ireland. The project is forecast to be commissioned by 2030.
- 400 MW Solar Project – In July 2023, Irish company, Terra Solar commissioned a solar project in Cork County in southern Ireland.
- 375 MW Offshore Wind Project – Irish state-owned utility, Electricity Supply Board is continuing work on the Oriel offshore wind project, which is located in the Irish Sea; The projects are forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2025.
Conclusions
Ireland imports the majority of its fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for power generation, heating, and transportation. In 2021, Ireland imported U.S. $2.3 Billion for petroleum gas and U.S. $2.3 Billion for imported refined petroleum.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Ireland has significant undeveloped offshore wind .Ireland is turning to the wind to replace costly fossil fuels for power.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.