Ireland has outperformed the European average for energy efficiency gains, according to a report published today.
Energy Efficiency in Ireland 2009, published by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), found the Irish economy achieved a 10 per cent improvement in energy efficiency between 1995 and 2007, with annual energy efficiency savings for 2007 reaching €750 million, equivalent to the annual energy use of half a million houses.
Ireland’s final energy usage rose by 66 per cent (4.3 per cent per annum) between 1995 and 2007, but the State scores highly in most areas of energy efficiency when compared with the rest of the EU-15, showing a 10 per cent improvement when compared to the EU-15’s average of 9 per cent.
Ireland posted the largest improvement in energy efficiency in the residential sector and the second-largest improvement in the industrial sector - behind the Netherlands.
In the transport sector however, the State was ranked second lowest for energy efficiency improvements.
Energy efficiency for industry improved by 16 per cent between 1995 and 2007, while efficiency for the residential sector improved by 15 per cent over the same time frame. The report also notes that energy efficiency in the transport sector did improve slightly, by 1.4 per cent, despite the fact transport energy use grew faster than the economy between 1995 and 2007.
Energy usage in the services sector rose by 53 per cent between those years, however.
The research found consumption of energy in the economy would have been 8.4 per cent greater in 2007 were it not for energy efficiency improvements made since 1995, and energy savings recorded in 2007 were two-and-a-half-times greater than the contribution of renewable energy.
Prof Owen Lewis, chief executive of the SEI, said: “Energy efficiency is a key element of Ireland’s energy and economic policy and today’s report underlines the important role it plays. The carbon emissions savings made as a result of energy efficiency measures greatly exceed the contribution from renewable energy.
"It’s encouraging to know that through the recently launched National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, Ireland can further build on this significant achievement and the €750 million in savings recorded in 2007 could be greatly exceeded in future years.”
Prof Lewis said Ireland's ambition in the area of sustainability "is to lead, not follow" and called for the role of energy efficiency to be prioritised.
In studying energy usage and efficiency, the study examines energy trends, based on the most recent data available.
Liz McManus TD, Labour spokeswoman on energy, welcomed the report but called for the speedy implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan.
"The report published today by Sustainable Energy Ireland outlines a welcome 10 per cent overall improvement in energy efficiency in Ireland. However, there is no room for complacency. The government has committed to 20 per cent energy savings by 2020, with a more ambitious saving of 33 per cent in the public sector," she said.
"In order for Ireland to reach these targets, there needs to be a sustained drive towards energy efficiency encompassing technological, behavioural and economic changes."
Noting the transport sector showed a growth of 138 per cent of energy use on 1995, Ms McManus said: "The growth of the private car is significant and now accounts for 38 per cent of all transport energy use. This is particularly worrying in light of the recent government cuts in the provision of public transport buses."
SEI is the statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy. It is funded under by the Government under the National Development Plan, with programmes part-financed by the EU.
