Ireland is “unnecessarily dependent” on imported fossil fuels and “exposed” to global energy shocks, the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has warned.
Ireland’s emissions from electricity generation fell last year, but only because the last coal power stations were shut down.
Instead Ireland is importing more fossil fuel generated electricity from the rest of Europe, the CCAC said.
Only a “limited” amount – 0.8GW – of additional renewable power was added to the grid last year, the council added.
Alex White, Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council, said:
“We know renewable energy helps to reduce wholesale electricity prices, but Irish households and businesses will not feel the full benefit unless we build the grid, storage and capacity needed to use that power. Every year of delay leaves Ireland more exposed to imported fossil fuels, volatile global markets and avoidable costs.”
“Storm Éowyn showed how vulnerable our electricity system, essential services and communities remain to extreme weather. Electricity resilience must be central to national climate adaptation planning, with clear responsibility, investment and delivery.”
“The Government has set the right ambition to end Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels. The test now is delivery. Critical grid projects must be prioritised, renewable planning must be accelerated, and the benefits of clean electricity must reach Irish households and business to ensure energy security and affordability for all.”
The findings are contained in the CCAC’s latest report published today.
Around 10 percent of available renewable electricity was wasted because of “grid constraints and curtailment”, the CCAC says.
The addition of just 0.8GW of new wind and solar capacity last year is far below the 2GW per year that the council estimates is needed to meet the government’s 2030 Climate Action Plan targets.
The Council warns that this slow pace of renewable delivery and grid reinforcement is leaving Ireland unnecessarily dependent on imported fossil fuels and exposed to global energy shocks, including market volatility linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Ireland now has the highest household electricity prices in the European Union, the CCAC said with more than 300,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills.
Emissions from electricity generation fell by 8.9 percent in 2025 as net electricity imports rose and now account for 17.3 percent of total electricity supply.