Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has on Tuesday published a new report, Energy in Ireland 1990 – 2007¹, which shows that since 2005*, energy-related CO₂ emissions have reduced by 1.4% (excluding international aviation), while the economy grew by 12% during the same period. The report also shows that Ireland is continuing to become more energy efficient with the primary energy intensity** of the economy falling by 42% between 1990 – 2007.

1 Current pdf file may be damaged.

The report, published by SEI’s Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit (EPSSU), details key trends in Ireland’s energy use and CO₂ emissions. Some key highlights are detailed below:

Highlights:

• The primary energy intensity of the economy fell by 42% between 1990 – 2007 (3.1% per annum).  In 1990 the Irish economy required 150 kilograms of oil equivalent (kgoe) to produce one thousand euro of GDP (in constant 2006 values). By 2007 this had fallen to just 90 kgoe, demonstrating a long term trend towards greater energy efficiency.
• In 2007, all sectors of the economy, with the exception of transport which grew by 5.1%, experienced reductions in energy-related CO₂ emissions.
• Ireland’s import dependency, while falling from 91% in 2006, still remained high at 89% in 2007.
• Between July and October 2008, after the introduction of emission-linked VRT and road tax rates, the share of lower emission cars was 84% of total vehicle sales, compared with 41% in the same period of 2007.
• Renewable energy increased by 11% in 2007, including a 21% increase in wind energy.

Brian Motherway, Head of Industry, SEI said;“Today's report reveals a long term trend of improving energy efficiency in the Irish economy. This gain was made over a period of sustained strong economic growth. However, while the analysis of 1990 to 2007 charts a period of considerable change, the coming years of lower economic growth and increasing targets will require much greater and more rapid change, in how we source and use energy.”

“The report also analyses how Ireland will meet its national energy and emissions targets. In the past week the EU has agreed increased targets in this regard which will require considerable effort on Ireland’s behalf in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements”continued Motherway. 

The transport sector recorded the highest growth rates of any sector in 2007 in terms of primary energy consumption which grew at 5.3%. The report however also contains the latest data showing increased share in new car sales of lower emission vehicles since the introduction in July 2008 of emission-linked VRT and road tax rates. Between July and October 2008, after the change in car taxes, 84% of new cars sold were in VRT bands A, B and C (i.e. < 155 gCO₂/km),  up from 41% in the same period in 2007. The average CO₂ emissions of new cars in Ireland in 2007 was 164 gCO₂/km.

Energy in Ireland 1990 – 2007 examines energy trends in Ireland since 1990 with particular emphasis on 2007. It discusses the underlying causes and relates the trends to Government and EU targets for the purpose of informing the development of Government policies and measures to meet the targets.

*2005 is the base year upon which proposed new EU emissions targets are to be measured.

 **Primary Energy Intensity is theenergy used per unit of GDP generated