Lisa Foley: Challenges intensify for renewable energy generation despite progress

Recent analysis by Cornwall Insight suggested that the Island of Ireland will narrowly miss this 80% target with our report forecasting 74% by 2030.

There has been a significant policy announcements this year designed to incentivise the development of offshore wind. Onshore wind however has seen a significant downward growth trajectory recently.

Ireland has renewable electricity targets for 2030 set out in the Climate Action Plans since 2021 of 9 gigawatt (GW) of onshore wind, 5GW of offshore wind and 8GW of solar. There is a specific target of 80% share of electricity generation supplied by renewable sources by 2030.

In 2023, 42% of electricity generated came from renewables meaning a fundamental shift in how we develop and operate our electricity system has been and continues to be needed.