Ireland has a number of energy-related targets for 2030 and beyond, relating to energy sources, emissions, end use and efficiency.

Greehouse Gas Emissions

Ireland's national greenhouse gas emissions1 were around 60.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2eq) in 2022, more than half of which was directly related to energy use. In 2022, 56.3% of Ireland’s emissions came from burning fossil fuels and other non-renewable fuel for energy purposes.

1 national total emissions excluding land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)

 % greenhouse gas emissions
Energy related56.3
Industrial processes & F-gases5.0
Agriculture37.3
Waste1.4

Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions targets

"The State shall, so as to reduce the extent of further global warming, pursue and achieve, by no later than the end of the year 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy."

- Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021

  • -51%

    by 2030
  • Climate neutral

    by 2050

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 established a legally binding framework for Ireland to transition to climate neutral economy by 2050. Amongst other provisions, the Act:

  • Sets out a national climate objective to pursue and achieve, by no later than the end of the year 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy
  • Requires the government to adopt a series of five-year carbon budgets starting in 2021, including targets for each sector of the economy (sectoral emission ceilings)
  • Provides that the first two carbon budgets, proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council, lead to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2030, compared to 2018
  • Requires that the Climate Action Plan is updated annually to include the actions required in each sector to comply with the carbon budgets and the sectoral emissions ceilings

Carbon budgets

Each carbon budget represents the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted nationally during a five year period. The carbon budget programme is proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council, approved by the government and adopted by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The current carbon budget programme consists of three 5-year budgets and came in effect in April 2022:

  • 2021-2025: 295 MtCO2eq - an average reduction in emissions of 4.8% per annum for the first budget
  • 2026-2030: 200 MtCO2eq - an average reduction in emissions of 8.3% per annum for the second budget
  • 2031-2035: 151 MtCO2eq (provisional) - an average reduction in emissions of 3.5% per annum for the third budget

Sectoral emissions ceilings

The sectoral emissions ceilings set out the maximum amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are permitted in different sectors of the economy during a budget period. In July 2022, the government approved the sectoral emissions ceilings for the first two carbon budget periods (2021-2025 and 2026-2030). The sectoral emissions ceilings for the 2021-2025 budget period are as follows:

  • Electricity: 40 MtCO2eq
  • Transport: 54 MtCO2eq
  • Built environment - residential: 29 MtCO2eq
  • Built environment - commercial: 7 MtCO2eq
  • Industry: 30 MtCO2eq
  • Agriculture: 106 MtCO2eq
  • Land use, land-use change and forestry: TBD
  • Other (F-gases, waste & petroleum refining): 9 MtCO2eq

Energy-related emissions account for almost all of the emissions in the electricity, transport, residential and commercial sectors, and around two-thirds of emissions in the industry sector.

Energy efficiency target

The EU's 2023 Energy Efficiency Directive sets an EU-wide target for the reduction in final energy consumption of at least 11.7% in 2030 compared to the projections of the 2020 EU reference scenario. As with other EU countries, Ireland will provide an updated indicative national contribution to this EU target as part of its Updated National Energy and Climate Plan, due to be submitted in 2024.

Renewable energy

Increasing the share of energy from renewable sources in the energy we use is one of the key pillars in decarbonising our economy, along with improving energy efficiency. Ireland has several targets relating to the share of energy from renewable sources, some of which are required under EU legislation and others are determined at a national level.

Renewable energy targets for 2030

  • 34.1%

    Overall renewable energy share
  • 80%

    Renewable energy in electricity
  • 29%

    Renewable energy in transport
  • 24%

    Renewable energy in heat

The EU recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) is the principal legislation that promotes the growth of renewable energy across the union out to 2030. RED II set targets and criteria to be met by Ireland in 2030 and the interim. Under the European Green Deal and REPowerEU plan, a significant revision to RED II was finalised in 2023 and entered into force on 20 November 2023 (referred to as RED III). RED III sets even more ambitious targets for 2030 and requires Member States to take additional measures to promote the use of renewable energy.

Overall renewable energy share

The share of energy from renewable sources in overall gross final energy consuption is commonly referred to as overall RES. RED II introduced a binding EU-wide target for overall RES of 32% in 2030 and required Member States to set their national contributions to the EU-wide target. As per the National Energy and Climate Plant (NECP) 2021-2030, Ireland’s overall RES target is 34.1% in 2030. RED III increased the binding EU-wide target for overall RES to at least 42.5%. Ireland will set its revised national contribution in accordance with RED III in its updated NECP, due to be submitted in 2024.

Renewable energy share in transport

The second mandatory target set by the RED II relates to the renewable energy share in transport sector. This is commonly referred to as the RES-T target. RED II set a RES-T target of 14% by 2030 and RED III has increased this target to 29%. RED III also changed the scope of the RES-T to include additional forms of transport.

Renewable energy share in electricity

The renewable electricity target is commonly referred to as the RES-E target. Ireland’s NECP 2021-2030 includes a planned RES-E of 70% in 2030, which will ensure that renewable electricity continues to form the backbone of our renewable energy use for the coming decade and beyond. Since 2021, Ireland’s Climate Action Plan has included a target to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources up to 80% in 2030.

Renewable energy share in heat

The renewable heat target is commonly referred to as the RES-H target. Ireland's NECP 2021 shows a planned RES-H of 24% in 2030. RED III requires Member States to increase the share of renewable energy in heat by at least 0.8 percentage points as an annual average calculated for 2021-2025 and by at least 1.1 percentage points as an annual average for the period 2026-2030.