Irish energy emissions have fallen to their lowest rate for 30 years, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which says more still needs to be done and that data centre demand continues to grow.
It said overall energy-related emissions last year were down 8.3 per cent in comparison to 2022, with the proportion of power coming from renewable sources hitting a record level.
SEAI said the reduced rate of emissions had been driven by the electricity and heat sectors, but that the commercial services sector, which includes data centres, saw demand rise by 6.9 per cent.
Ireland’s overall increase in energy demand was led mainly by the transport sector, which was up 4.5 per cent due to private car use and aviation, it said.
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In the residential sector, demand for gas, coal, peat and oil all dropped last year, with home energy demand reaching its lowest level in 25 years. The authority said multiple factors likely played a role in this, including a reduced need for home heating due to a warm winter, high energy prices and more homes having had energy upgrades.
However, the authority said data for the early part of this year suggested that residential demand for gas and heating oil was increasing, which could culminate in higher emissions from the sector.
Despite the positives last year, SEAI said Ireland’s transport and electricity emissions would exceed their sectoral ceilings in the first carbon budget (2021-2025).
SEAI chief executive William Walsh said the data “includes a number of welcome achievements in terms of renewables and emissions reductions”, but he said “we need bold, courageous and committed leadership nationally and across all sectors to avoid missing our non-negotiable carbon budgets and EU targets”.
Mr Walsh said “the changes we are making make a difference” and that Ireland had “significant momentum that we now must capitalise on”.
“The incoming government comes at a time where a redoubling of effort could see us realising the urgent change needed in our shift away from fossil fuels.”
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