The Climate Change Advisory Council has said planning delays and appeals are significantly hindering transformation in the electricity sector, and that much more urgent Government action is required for the electricity sector to meet its climate targets.
Council Chair Marie Donnelly has called on the Government to show leadership and to take the actions necessary to grasp the known opportunities in the sector.
It comes as the council publishes what is the first ever statutory sectoral review of Ireland’s electricity sector, highlighting how the emissions data for electricity in Ireland flatters to deceive.
The official data for instance, shows a 21% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the country’s electricity sector last year, down to the lowest level since 1990.
One of the main reasons for that, however, was a 12-fold increase in the amount of electricity imported from the UK.
Just over 10% of Ireland’s electricity came from the UK last year, yet none of the associated emissions were allocated to Ireland.
The report says electricity imports from the UK will have to be maintained into the future to keep reported emissions down.
Ireland’s electricity demand increased by 3% last year compared to a reduction of 3.4% in the rest of Europe.
The carbon intensity of electricity generated here is actually 20% above the EU average according to today’s report.
Meanwhile, blockages and delays related to planning permissions and appeals have slowed the installation of new renewable generating capacity to a trickle.
Only 0.2 Gigawatts of onshore wind capacity was added last year. That is very far short of what is required to meet Ireland’s climate targets.
No new onshore wind projects were approved for an entire year before last September.
The Climate Change Advisory Council says the Government must move faster. It wants to see the revised EU Renewable Energy Directive transposed into Irish law as soon as possible to allow “Renewable Accelerated Areas” to be designated.
This would enable shortened and simplified planning procedures to apply for onshore windfarms and, under specific circumstances, remove some of the constraints of the EU Habitat’s Directive.
It is also calling on the Government to urgently deliver the National Planning Framework Review so that Local Development Plans, County Development Plans and local authority climate action plans can be aligned with the mandated national and regional targets and with EU legal requirements.
Ms Donnelly said the council’s analysis of the electricity sector is a stark reminder of the critical actions that are required to ensure that Ireland stays within its emissions ceiling while providing security of supply for a growing economy.
“Government must show leadership and take the actions required to ensure that Ireland can quickly capitalise on resources that we know are available but cannot come online due to system blockages. We know the potential – we now must have it realised.
“It is important that planning processes are put in place to ensure that new energy infrastructure is developed to withstand future projected climate impacts. Operators must address known flood risks to vital infrastructure and take account of protecting and, where possible enhancing, biodiversity in their developments.
“Building consumer confidence and understanding in electrification is also an important step. If Ireland is to grasp the opportunity in the electricity sector, then it is crucial that we bring consumers and communities with us.”
The Council has said it is crucial that the use of coal to generate electricity is stopped by 2025 and that the use of oil is phased out as soon as possible.
