Ireland 2024
Energy Policy Review
About this report
Government action plays a pivotal role in ensuring secure and sustainable energy transitions and combatting the climate crisis. Energy policy is critical not just for the energy sector but also for meeting environmental, economic and social goals. Governments need to respond to their country’s specific needs, adapt to regional contexts and help address global challenges. In this context, the International Energy Agency (IEA) conducts Energy Policy Reviews to support governments in developing more impactful energy and climate policies.
This Energy Policy Review was prepared in partnership between the Government of Ireland and the IEA. It draws on the IEA’s extensive knowledge and the inputs of expert peers from IEA member countries to assess Ireland’s most pressing energy sector challenges and provide recommendations on how to address them, backed by international best practices. The report also highlights areas where Ireland’s leadership can serve as an example in promoting secure clean energy transitions. It also promotes the exchange of best practices among countries to foster learning, build consensus and strengthen political will for a sustainable and affordable clean energy future.
Online table of contents
Ireland
Explore data on energy mix, emissions, electricity, efficiency and demand, renewables, oil, gas and coal.
Key recommendations
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Streamline and shorten the planning consent regime so that the investments needed for the energy transition are delivered on time.
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Decrease the frequency of climate action plans as Ireland shifts from a strategic policy and planning phase to an implementation phase. It should instead focus on delivering tangible actions set out in the plans to ensure the government’s climate agenda is realised.
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Increase the resilience of supply chains across the whole energy sector to avoid delays in the roll-out of infrastructure, including ensuring that a sufficiently sized and skilled workforce is available to meet the needs of the energy transition.
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Strengthen public acceptance of the infrastructure needed for the energy transition by engaging actively with consumers, explaining the benefits of and need for the infrastructure, taking account of their concerns and developing models enabling them to share in the benefits of local energy projects.
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Take a holistic view when developing sectoral plans to ensure consistency.
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Research options of how best to increase carbon sinks or carbon retention of peatlands, especially in the long term, and establish regional guidelines. Take a holistic view when developing sectoral plans to ensure consistency.