Ireland’s renewable energy potential is world-leading.

The nation’s geographical positioning and natural resources, paired with a government supportive of a booming industry make a better energy future for all a real possibility. Ireland is already ranked first globally in the share of electricity demand provided by onshore wind. It’s also second in Europe in solar energy production per capita. And what’s motivating is that progress made is only a fraction of progress ahead. 

By leveraging its strengths, and a hefty project pipeline, the country aims to generate 80% of its electricity by 2024. Currently, it's generating 47%. 

Growth Blockers

However, these ambitions for growth, somewhat inevitably, come with their share of frustration. A lack of joined-up thinking on policy development, overwhelmed planning systems, and a grid already at capacity are beta-blockers to a fervor for a leading role in Europe’s energy transition. So much so, that apathy has set in. 

A recent KPMG report revealed that 95% of industry experts believe that Ireland will miss its 80% electricity target by 2030. Few of these experts question the commitment at every level of government fighting to deliver this policy, but most are aware of their lack of resources to get the job done. This mismatch between industry ambition and government bandwidth will make or break Ireland’s progress in renewables in 2024. 

For instance, as you read this, there are more than 11,000MW of onshore wind energy projects at various stages of development. An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s independent planning body, has not approved a single new wind farm in nearly a year. Not one. 

The Way Forward 

Calls for a purposeful resourced planning system and a government task force for renewables have been made, with Eigrid’s Shaping Our Electricity Future strategy propped up as the northern star. 2024 brings the opportunity for all of this to happen. 

But whatever happens, collaboration between industry and government will be the key to fulfilling Ireland’s world-leading renewable energy potential. 

At Verde Energy Group, in 2024, we plan to continue our commitment to making the world greener, working on adding to our toll of thousands of energy-saving, carbon-reducing projects in Ireland. 

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