With many of Ireland’s policy priorities converging around secure supplies of electricity, the robust development of the country’s power system will be central to achieving its energy and economic ambitions, according to a report published recently by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Ireland’s electricity demand is projected to grow strongly over the next decade, and the new IEA report – ‘Powering Ireland’s Energy Future: Approaches for a secure, renewables-led electricity system to 2035’ – explores how the country can build on recent progress to advance electrification while addressing emerging electricity security risks to safeguard system stability and affordability.
The country has emerged as a global frontrunner in the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Wind power supplied around a third of Ireland’s electricity in 2024, four times the global average and second only to Denmark among countries with gigawatt-scale power systems. The new IEA report assesses ways in which Ireland can ensure its electricity sector can evolve to meet rising demand – and the country’s long-term energy and climate objectives, while managing new challenges associated with more variable power supply.
The report has been launched recently during a meeting between Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
