Chapter 16 Information Communications and Energy

Closed4 Jun, 2021, 12:00am - 30 Aug, 2021, 11:59pm

16.0 Introduction
 

This energy chapter focuses primarily on ‘energy infrastructure’ associated with the production, distribution and use of energy including electricity and the energy used in transport and heating. The importance of energy management in its wider sense is however a cross cutting issue in this plan and is addressed throughout the plan policies and objectives where necessary, in particular with reference to the climate change related actions, development standards and transport objectives.  

The word energy is used as a synonym of energy resources, and most often refers to substances like fuels, petroleum products and electricity in general. These are sources of usable energy, in that they can be easily transformed to other kinds of energy sources that can serve a particular useful purpose. 

Ireland’s energy requirements have increased significantly over the past two decades due to growth in energy consumption for transport, electricity and heating. Linked with increasing economic growth, Ireland's overall demand for energy continues to rise. In 2018 energy demand grew by 4.5%. Oil continues to be the dominant energy source, increasing from a share of 47% in 1990 to a peak of 60% in 1999, but falling back to 49 % in 2018. Natural gas increased in 2018 by 3.8%, which is 28% higher than in 2005.  

Despite the increase in energy demand, energy-related CO2 emissions fell slightly, mainly due to a reduction in the amount of coal used for electricity generation, along with increased contributions from wind generation. The transition from fossil fuels to renewables to generate electricity has led to a fall in the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere and it is now less than half what it was in the year 2000. Energy demand for heat and transport increased in 2018. 

Under the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009, the National 2020 target for Ireland was to source 16% of all energy consumed from renewable sources. In addition to this Ireland was required to achieve a 10% share of renewable energy in transport consumption by 2020 (known as RES-T). Ireland has committed to a range of renewable energy and efficiency targets many of which are being implemented as Climate Change policy measures to reduce carbon emissions. At a European level, the 20/20/20 commitments agreed under the EU Climate Change and Energy Package set three new targets for 2020:  

  • A minimum 20% reduction in GHG emissions based on 1990 levels;
  • 20% of final energy consumption to be produced by renewable energy resources; and
  • 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.

Ireland’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan 2009 details a pathway for Ireland to meet these binding commitments by setting national targets. 

A report prepared by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) ‘Renewable Energy in Ireland 2020 Update’ found that Ireland was not on track to meet its 2020 renewable energy targets. The Report indicates that overall renewable energy supply was 11% of gross final consumption which falls short of the 16% target. The share of renewable transport energy (RES-T) was 7.2% which is below the 10% target. The share of renewable electricity (RES-E) was 33.2%. Ireland had a national target of 40% by 2020. It is therefore imperative that a significant emphasis is placed on both the issues of supply and demand for energy in the County Development Plan. 

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Please see attached submission on behalf of ESB 
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