Energy

Total primary energy requirements by fuel type 1990-2008
Courtesy of the EPA

The energy sector has been the second highest contributor of GHG emissions in Ireland since 1990. In 2009 it accounted for 21.1% (13.12 Mt) of greenhouse gas emissions.  

There was a large increase in energy-related GHG emissions between 1990 and 2001, with CO2 emissions rising by 43%. This is mainly due to increasing demand for electricity. However, since 2001 emissions from the energy sector have been falling steadily and they are now 15.4% higher than 1990 amounts (11.36 Mt). Furthermore, the 2009 figure represents a decrease of 10.7% over the sector’s emission levels in 2008. This is due to a reduction in demand for electricity from end-users in Ireland. The share of renewables in gross electricity consumption also increased to 14.1% in 2009 from 11.7% in 2008 whilst the use of peat and coal in power generation decreased