Energy Governance in Ireland

Abstract

Ireland is committed to significant decarbonization of the energy system by mid-century, including an aggregate reduction in CO₂ emissions from electricity generation, the built environment, and transport of at least 80% by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. There has been limited consideration to date of the governance of Ireland’s energy transition in the literature. This chapter attempts to fill this gap. It introduces the characteristics of Ireland’s economy and energy system. Ireland’s economy has been characterized by late industrialization, a very pronounced pattern of boom and bust over the past two decades, relative lack of heavy industry, low population density, and dispersed spatial development. In terms of energy, Ireland is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, though renewables have grown significantly as a share of electricity generation in the past decade. The chapter maps Ireland’s governance institutions as they pertain to the energy system, draws attention to the fragmented governance landscape, and outlines Ireland’s principal policy approaches. In the electricity generation sector, the principal type policy instrument that has been used to date is incentive-based instruments. In the heating and transport sectors, by contrast, policy has been more varied, comprising a mix of incentive-based instruments, regulatory policy-making, and soft governance. The chapter concludes with prospects for the future, highlighting significant challenges facing Ireland’s future energy transition pathway.