#Energy Prices

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#Energy Prices

All the news, views and analysis published by the Irish Examiner on the issue of local and international energy prices and supply chains.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>At the launch of Solar Ireland's Scale of Solar Report 2026 at Government Buildings were Solar Ireland director of communications and strategy Priscila McGeehan; Solar Ireland CEO Ronan Power, and climate, energy, and environment minister Darragh O'Brien. Picture: Shane O'Neill/Coalesce </p>

economy

Ireland's solar power capacity jumps 300% in three years — report

The report shows total connected solar capacity reaching 2.7GW by the end of May 2026, representing 297% growth since 2023 and more than 50% growth in approximately 12 months.

<p>In its latest quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank is projecting that inflation is expected to hit 3.5% throughout this year before falling to 2.9% next year, and 2% in 2028.</p>

economy

Inflation forecast to largely cancel out pay rises as energy price hikes 'erode' disposable income

<p>Report warns Ireland remains vulnerable to future fuel price shocks. File picture</p>

news

Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels leaves public exposed to fuel price shocks, report warns

Anglo Irish court case

politics

Government should listen to itself on spending, finance watchdog tells TDs

AIB Group Plc Chief Executive Officer Colin Hunt Interview

companies

AIB chief Colin Hunt warns it's too early to get 'overexcited' about oil price moderation

Senior couple going over bills

companies

Irish consumers feel more financial pressure than their peers across Europe – survey

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Speaks At International Womens Day 2026 Conference

David McNamara: ECB is fighting the last war on inflation

The ECB was burned by being late to react after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but the peace deal in the Middle East raises the risk that this time it made an error of hiking rates too soon

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Iran War Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices drop to three-month low after US-Iran deal struck

Prices fall to lowest levels since March 10

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Mick Clifford: North-South interconnector saga drags on for over two decades

Mick Clifford: North-South interconnector saga drags on for over two decades

Locals accept North-South interconnector is important to the electricity grid. But they are seeking 'procedural justice' and for every possible solution, including going underground, to be properly examined

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Wind farms inject €75m into local authority commercial rates

Wind farms inject €75m into local authority commercial rates

Wind energy rates payments to rise by almost €5.6 million in 2026

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Duty of care owed to prisoners

Irish Examiner view: Duty of care owed to prisoners

There are no addiction nurses employed by the Irish Prison Service, even though thousands of prisoners suffer from addiction issues

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Electric bill charges paper

Vulnerable households get less protection than well-off from energy price hikes, ESRI says

The Economic and Social Research Institute's associate research professor Dr Claire Keane said: 'More targeted measures could better protect vulnerable groups at a lower cost'

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Close Up Of Woman Opening Euro Energy Bill During Cost Of Living Crisis

Renewed calls for energy credits as more than 500,000 in arrears on bills

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close ally and supporter of Putin, 'retains a controlling share of the company that has a majority ownership of Aughinish Alumina'

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Data centres 'help secure 94k Irish jobs’ – Government-commissioned study

Data centres 'help secure 94k Irish jobs’ – Government-commissioned study

Department of Enterprise-commissioned study warns that if data centre development is curbed, Ireland could miss out on €1.6bn in annual employment-related tax revenues

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Senior couple discussing over medical bill while sitting on sofa at retirement home

Cost of living, health, housing eclipse climate issue in people's priorities – Irish Examiner poll

Irish people surveyed do not believe the effects of climate change should be our top priority — and yet, the soaring cost of energy is among our highest priorities

Sun, 31 May, 2026

Shona Murray: Donald Trump’s dismissal of Nato could goad Russia into European incursion

Shona Murray: Donald Trump’s dismissal of Nato could goad Russia into European incursion

Drones, GPS jamming, and other hybrid aggressions from Russia are putting Europe's eastern flank under renewed threat

Sat, 30 May, 2026

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Speaks At International Womens Day 2026 Conference

Inflation remains high ahead of interest rate meeting

With inflation running well ahead of the European Central Bank's target of 2%, an interest rate increase looks likely next month

Fri, 29 May, 2026

close-up of an automatic milking machine in a dairy cow farm

Kieran Coughlan: Want to save yourself hundreds or thousands on the farm?

Any grant aid received will help reduce the payback period. But in a tough year for farming, investing in solar still makes sense, writes rural tax adviser Kieran Coughlan

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Fire gas flame close-up blurred background, cooking coffee in a cezve on fire

Yuno Energy to raise gas and electricity prices for the first time

The supplier said the rise will come into effect on July 1

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Electric bill charges paper

Electric Ireland customers to pay up to €138 more annually under new price rises

More than one million customers will face higher energy bills from July amid rising wholesale market pressures

Thu, 28 May, 2026

Worried this winter campaign

Irish consumers face €600 rise in energy bills due to data centres, report warns

Data centres accounted for 22% of electricity consumption in Ireland in 2024

Thu, 28 May, 2026

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD Visit Schools in Youghal, Co. Cork.

Fianna Fáil backs bill to remove ban on nuclear energy

Parliamentary party hears that a conversation on nuclear energy was urgent due to the significant energy costs faced by households and businesses

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Consumer sentiment recovers slightly in May as energy cost concerns ease

Consumer sentiment recovers slightly in May as energy cost concerns ease

Economist Austin Hughes said the improvement in consumer sentiment in May could reflect two different developments — a ceasefire in the Middle East and the Irish Government introducing supports in response to the global energy crisis

Fri, 22 May, 2026

National Fuel Protest

Elaine Loughlin: Politicians need to stop treating public like a baby

Both the Government and opposition seem to be blinded by short-term thinking and solutions, writes Elaine Loughlin

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Large offshore drilling rig in the gulf at sunset

Emergency gas reserve 'many years' away despite proposed laws

Two bills to set up the reserve will have 'no impact' on current energy crisis

Thu, 14 May, 2026

Petrol costs

Inflation hits 3.7% as pressure on energy supply drives prices up

Highest annual rate of inflation observed in Consumer Price Index since January 2024

Thu, 14 May, 2026

Meta Data Centres

Customer energy bills are not bearing a 'disproportionate brunt' from data centres, regulator says

The Oireachtas Energy Committee has also heard that developing nuclear power in Ireland could take up to 15 years, and have 'unforeseen consequences'

Wed, 13 May, 2026

Iran War Strait of Hormuz

Government must 'stop people freezing to death' in winter if Iran war continues, groups warn

Also, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers received Cabinet approval to introduce stricter spending controls to tackle department overruns

Tue, 12 May, 2026

Cost of electricity: halogen bulb and twenty Euro notes

Energy suppliers not making 'excessive' profits from soaring gas and electricity prices, watchdog says

CRU report also suggests the average household could save €395 for electricity and €184 for gas a year by switching their tariffs

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Nuclear option: Adi Roche says Ireland should commit to renewables rather than nukes

Nuclear option: Adi Roche says Ireland should commit to renewables rather than nukes

Chornobyl activist ADI ROCHE says Ireland should resist the push to adopt nuclear power generation, while NEIL MICHAEL provides a historical insight into Ireland's opposition to nukes

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Nuclear option: Cork TD says reversing Ireland's ban on nuclear energy is crucial for our future

Nuclear option: Cork TD says reversing Ireland's ban on nuclear energy is crucial for our future

Amid soaring energy prices and Ireland's precarious energy security, Cork East TD James O'Connor asks if we have the courage of the generation that delivered the Shannon scheme

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear option: Could Ireland emulate Finland’s energy model?

Colin Sheridan says Ireland would have to switch to the likes of the Mankala model if it wants to go nuclear

Mon, 11 May, 2026

National Grid electricity

Nuclear option is back on the table — but politicians and the public will take some convincing

The fuel protests prompted debate on the link between a lack of energy self-sufficiency and high prices, with many asking why nuclear was not higher on the agenda

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Cooling towers of nuclear power plant against blue sky

Bid to end Ireland's 1999 ban reignites nuclear power debate

Opposition is already building as Cork East TD James O’Connor plans to bring Electricity Regulation (Amendment) bill to a Fianna Fáil meeting following support from the Taoiseach

Sun, 10 May, 2026

Ireland-France electricity cable delayed until the end of 2028

Ireland-France electricity cable delayed until the end of 2028

Celtic Interconnector subsea cable between Knockraha in East Cork and La Martyre in Brittany was supposed to go live this year

Sun, 10 May, 2026

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Is Ireland ready for nuclear power?

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Is Ireland ready for nuclear power?

Questions over energy security, renewables, and political support are fuelling renewed debate around nuclear power in Ireland

Listen | Fri, 08 May, 2026

Nodding donkey in the desert, Kingdom of Bahrain

National Oil Reserve Agency boss: Middle East conflict has caused 'absolute uncertainty'

NORA generally holds 90 days’ worth of oil reserves – the release of those barrels would reduce that reserve to roughly 80 days

Thu, 07 May, 2026

Richmond Village housing development

Taoiseach accused of 'gutless' response to rising energy prices

Micheál Martin defended the Government's record on the cost of living during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil

Wed, 06 May, 2026

FRANCE-ENERGY-NUCLEAR-CIVAUX

Taoiseach: We should 'seriously examine' nuclear power

Speaking in Armenia, Micheál Martin said that Ireland relies too much on imported energy

Mon, 04 May, 2026

Applications for home energy grants have surged, says SEAI

Applications for home energy grants have surged, says SEAI

So far this year, there has been a record 25,000 grant applications

Mon, 04 May, 2026

Save Energy, Reducing Electricity Use

Prepay Power hikes bills as over one million households warned of rising energy costs

Energy supplier announces price increases citing rising wholesale costs, with further hikes expected across the market in coming weeks

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Protest at Whitegate refinery in Cork officially stood down; Cabinet to meet on Sunday

Gardaí to change approach to protests in wake of Whitegate fuel blockade

'I think we would see a far different approach if we had [a blockade] this weekend' – Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

Energy costs

One in seven households struggle with energy bills as ESRI urges targeted supports

Study finds widespread energy affordability challenges and suggests targeted supports could reduce costs while better helping vulnerable households

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

Celtic Interconnector delay due to technical difficulties – Martin

Celtic Interconnector delay due to technical difficulties – Martin

Taoiseach tells Dáil that EirGrid officials informed him of expected delays during last month's French Film Festival in Cork

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Celtic Interconnector delayed until 2028, deepening energy concerns

Celtic Interconnector delayed until 2028, deepening energy concerns

The project’s delay strengthens Ireland’s dependency on imported gas for electricity generation

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Passports at Krakow airport border control with travelers and staff in Poland

Europe’s smaller airports ‘under threat’ if fuel shortages trigger more cancellations

Jet fuel shortages caused by the Middle East crisis could shut some regional airports, the Airports Council of Europe has warned

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Electric car purchase incentives

Government wants to 'do more' for small businesses by improving renewable energy grants

Climate minister Darragh O'Brien said he was working on improving grants for SMEs to help deal with soaring energy costs

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

FRANCE-DIGITAL-CLOUD

Private Wires Bill must be climate‑proofed, committee warns

Call to assess legislation for impact on emissions and household electricity bills amid concerns about benefits for large energy users, such as data centres

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

EPH Controls: From wheelbarrow beginnings to a new €15m HQ by Cork's Kinsale Road

EPH Controls: From wheelbarrow beginnings to a new €15m HQ by Cork's Kinsale Road

Cork company EPH is now the market leader in the Irish heating controls industry

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

Spring Economic Statement

Government to prepare options to help reduce cost of energy bills

The Finance Minister has said the Government must look at methods like targeted grants and accessible financing

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026