SEAI publishes the Interim Energy Balance 2021

SEAI publishes the Interim Energy Balance 2021 showing Ireland's energy use increased by 4.3% last year.

  • Ireland's energy use increased by 4.3% last year
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 6.3%, faster than our energy use, largely due to the types of fuels we used
  • Need for quicker move to renewables to ensure clean and independent energy supply

Today we have published the Interim Energy Balance 2021, which shows that Ireland's energy use increased by 4.3% last year. This follows a decrease in 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, there has been a rebound in demand for oil-products, particularly for transport as travel restrictions have eased. The figures underline the challenges arising from Ireland's high dependency on imported fossil fuels.

Energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 6.3%, faster than our energy use, largely due to the types of fuels we had to use, particularly in electricity generation. A combination of low-wind periods in 2021, and less rain for hydro-generation meant that less of our electricity came from renewable sources. Coupled with temporary closures on some gas fired generation stations, this led to a tripling of coal and oil use for electricity generation, both extremely carbon intensive fuels. The implementation of national plans to increase the renewable electricity share to 80% by 2030 involves generating energy from onshore and offshore wind and solar PV. These plans include the development of increased renewable energy storage to mitigate variability in renewables into the future. 

 
'The Government passed into law carbon budgets that call for an annual reduction of 4.8% in energy-related CO2 emissions in late 2021.  The emissions in 2021 are clear signals of how important it is to deliver the actions identified in our national Climate Action Plan, without delay.  We need to make the shift away from fossil fuels to renewables much quicker to ensure a clean and secure supply of energy. The reasons to reduce fossil fuel dependency are clear and will help insulate us from large scale increases in gas and oil prices.We need to both increase our generation of renewable electricity, and switch to technologies driven by this clean energy. The most secure unit of energy is the one we either don't use, or that we source from Irish renewables.'
Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights
'We encourage businesses, citizens and communities to utilise existing Government supports and make whatever changes they can to move away from fossil fuel use now. While the scale of the climate crisis can seem overwhelming, the benefits of collective action to move away from fossil fuels will create a better Ireland, with improved air quality, more comfortable homes, more vibrant communities and an economy built on sustainable industries and jobs.'
Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights

SEAI offers a range of Government funded supports for householders, businesses, and communities who want to reduce their fossil fuel use, including grants for home energy upgrades, EVs, and energy upgrades to businesses and community buildings. For information on these supports and advice on how to reduce your energy bills, visit seai.ie.

Notes to Editor

SEAI Statistical Process

In preparing authoritative data-releases on Ireland's energy supply and demand, SEAI balances the competing requirements of timeliness and accuracy in its reporting. Statisticians at SEAI work to reconcile, aggregate, and supplement provisional monthly data, to create definitive annual data, and cross-check these calculations with other national agencies, such as the EPA and CSO, to ensure a coherent and self-consistent national record.

 

Highlights

Energy Supply

  • Ireland's energy supply increased by 4.3% in 2021, substantially rebounding from the strong COVID impacts of 2020
  • Fossil fuels accounted for 86.2% of Ireland's energy supply share in 2021, up from 85.7% in 2020
  • 11.8% of Ireland's energy supply came from renewable energy, down from 13.3% in 2020
  • 7.1% of Ireland's energy supply came from coal, more than double the share used in 2020
  • 1.9% of Ireland's energy supply came from peat, down from a 3.1% share in 2020
  • Oil and natural gas accounted for 45.8% and 31.4% of Ireland's energy supply, respectively

Energy Related CO2

  • Ireland's CCAC all-sector 2021-2025 carbon budgets call for a 4.8% annual reduction in CO2
  • Excluding international aviation, Ireland emitted 33.9Mt of energy related CO2 in 2021, up by  6.1% from 32.0Mt of CO2 in 2020
  • Including international aviation, Ireland emitted 35.2Mt of energy related CO2 in 2021, up by 6.3% from 33.2Mt of CO2 in 2020
  • The increase in energy related CO2 emissions was driven by increased in oil consumption, after the lifting of COVID-related travel restrictions, and increased use of fossil fuels for electricity generation
  • CO2 emissions from electricity generation increased by 16.9% in 2021

Renewable Energy

  • 11.8% of Ireland's energy supply came from renewable energy, down from 13.3% in 2020
  • The reduction in renewable energy was due to a combination of low-wind periods throughout the year, and low-rain periods for hydro-generation
  • Wind energy and hydro energy outputs were down by 15.8% and 19.6%, respectively
  • The reduced availability of renewable energy impacted Ireland's ability to avoid CO2 emissions from fossil fuels

Electricity

  • The renewable energy share of electricity generation fell to 35% (down from 42% in 2020)
  • The drop in renewable energy share of electricity was due to a combination of low-wind periods throughout the year, and low-rain periods for hydro-generation
  • To compensate for reduced renewable generation, both electricity generation from fossil fuels, and the net-import of electricity, increased
  • The use of both coal and oil for electricity generation more than tripled in 2021, accounting for 14.0% and 7.5% of energy input for electricity generation, respectively
  • CO2 emissions from electricity generation increased by 16.9% in 2021
  • The carbon intensity of electricity was 333 gCO2/kWh, up from 296 gCO2/kWh in 2020

Energy Security

  • Energy security is essential for economic stability and growth, with indigenous energy sources considered more secure than imported energy.
  • Ireland imported 77% of its energy supply in 2021, up from 72.1% in 2020
  • Ireland imported 71.3% of its natural gas in 2021, up from 63.8% in 2020
  • 28.7% of Ireland's natural gas came from the Corrib gas-field in 2021, down from 36.2% in 2020
  • In 2021, 5.5% of electricity available to consumers was imported from Northern Ireland or Wales
  • 91.5% of Ireland's renewable energy is indigenous. The value is not 100%, because we import most of our biodiesel and bioethanol, and 15% of our biomass