Ireland and Energy

Ireland consumes approximately 6,000 KWH of electricity per capita per year. In 2009, renewable energy sources accounted for approximately 4.5% of the country's total energy use. This figure is low in comparison to other EU countries which average about 9%. Countries with the highest portion of renewable energy are Norway, Latvia, Sweden, Austria and Finland where these sources account for between 20 to over 40% of usage.

Ireland has the greatest wind energy resource in Europe and ranks among the lowest in the EU in terms of development of renewable resources. Ireland imported 89% of its energy needs in 2008. Fossil fuels accounted for 96% of all energy used in Ireland in 2008. Oil is the most dominant energy source used in the country. Ireland consumes approximately 700 watts per capita. The country as a whole consumes 27,000,000 MWH/Y for a population of ca. 4.6 M or ca. 6,000 KWH/Y per capita.

Nearly 15% of Irish electricity is currently being generated from renewables.

Current trends, however, are encouraging. As of July 2012, 14.8% of Irish electricity is being generated from renewable sources, up from 5% in 1990. Wind is the main source of renewable energy production, increasing from less than 1% of total renewable production in 1995 to over 40% today.

Ireland has the greatest wind resource in Europe.

Ireland also has considerable solar resources where 1m² yields approximately 1,100 KWH of solar energy per year. A mere 6m² of solar capture per person would provide for all their electrical use. While 40% of the country's solar resources are from direct light, the majority and balance are from indirect light. 

In Ireland, 6m² of solar capture/person would provide for all their electrical use.

Currently, grid connected solar photovoltaics is the fastest growing energy technology in the world and utility solar power is delivered commercially in a number of areas including California at costs ($100/MWH or $0.10/KWH) far below those of conventional power. The cost  of solar cells fell from $3.50/W to $2.43/W in 2011 and the pace of their cost effectiveness continues to accelerate. Prices below $1.00/W have been reported in 2012 and a module price of 0.60 Euro/W was recently achieved for a large scale Chinese and German project.