7. Energy efficiency and residential heating

Key data

(2016)

TFC: 10.9 Mtoe (oil 55.5%, electricity 20.2%, natural gas 16.3%, biofuels and waste 3.7%, coal 2.5%, peat 1.8), -15% since 2006

Consumption by sector: transport 36.8%, industry 24.9%, residential 24.2%, commercial 14.1%

Energy consumption (TFC) per capita: 2.3 toe (IEA average 2.9 toe), -22% since 2006

Energy intensity (TFC/GDP): 37 toe/USD million (2010 prices, PPP) (IEA average: 75 toe/USD million), -42% since 2006

Energy consumption for residential space and water heating (2015): 2.2 Mtoe (oil 42.5%, electricity 12.2%, natural gas 23.5%, biofuels and waste 3.4%, coal and peat 18.3%), -11% since 2005

Energy intensity for space heating (2015): 0.35 GJ/m2 (IEA average 0.34 GJ/m2), -34% since 2005

Overview

Ireland set a non-binding target to improve its energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 compared to average energy use during the period 2000-05. It had achieved 12% savings by the end of 2016. It is unlikely that Ireland will reach its target, although the impact of some policy measures that became effective in 2017 has not been fully reflected in projections to 2020. Ireland’s economy was severely affected by the financial crisis of 2008, but has picked up in recent years, driven by investments from international technology and service companies. Ireland’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been above the pre-crisis level from 2007 since 2014.

The strong economic growth resulted in Ireland having the lowest energy intensity, defined as total final consumption (TFC) of energy per GDP, among International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries in 2016.1 Ireland’s TFC also declined during the crisis years, followed by a slight increase in recent years. The TFC was 10.9 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2016, 15% lower than the peak in 2006 but 7% higher than in 2014. The TFC seems to have decoupled from economic growth, but less so from population growth (Figure 7.1).

1 For a discussion of the methodological issues with measuring Ireland’s economic growth, see the chapter on “General energy policy”.

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