The Irish government has published an action plan on climate change designed to decarbonise the country within 12 years. By 2030 some 70% of power generation will be from renewable energy, more than double the current position.
Key measures include a new microgeneration scheme, allowing homeowners to generate their own electricity and sell what they do not use to the national grid. There are targets for putting nearly million electric vehicles on Irish roads as well as the retrofitting of 500,000 homes to make them more energy-efficient in a move which will also see 400,000 heat pumps installed.
The administration has also announced a new marine planning regime which should boost and streamline offshore generation consents.
Meanwhile ESB and nine other Irish and overseas energy companies are examining the role that hydrogen produced by offshore wind energy might play in reducing carbon emissions from heating and transport.
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Further reading
Citizens’ Assembly to explore net zero aims and options, in Select Committee initiative
OPINION: We must start preparing for net zero’s extreme power scenarios
Net zero: the industry responds
Treasury Committee opens inquiry on decarbonisation and green finance