Ireland's Electricity Supply Board commits to net zero emissions by 2040

Ireland's state-owned Electricity Supply Board has committed to achieve net zero climate emissions by 2040 via renewables, storage, reinforced networks and consumer electrification, it said Feb. 14.

The program sets an interim goal of growing renewables from 1 GW to 5 GW by 2030, reducing ESB's generation carbon intensity by two thirds from 414gCO2/kWh to 140gCO2/kWh.

"The ESB strategy recognises the role of resilient electricity generation and networks infrastructure in providing secure, clean and affordable electricity," Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said at the launch of the plan in Dublin.

"I welcome in particular the multi-billion investment to repurpose our electricity system to power 1.3 million EVs and 600,000 heat pumps with low-carbon energy by 2030, placing the citizen at the centre of this transformation."

In renewables, the ESB said its own 5 GW goal twinned with network reinforcements would contribute to delivering all-island renewables growth from 6.2 GW today to more than 15 GW by 2030.

In storage, the ESB would develop utility-scale batteries and, longer term, hydrogen.

In customer services, it would double public EV charge points by 2030 to 3,000 and deliver 35,000 domestic retrofits through electric Ireland Superhomes, a partnership with Tipperary Energy Agency.

Finally ESB Networks would aim to complete installation of 2.6 million smart meters on behalf of utility regulator the CRU.

In November the Irish government published a revised climate action plan to reduce the country's carbon emissions by 51% by 2030. The plan includes a doubling in renewables' share in the power mix to 80%.

This would be met by 5 GW of offshore wind, 8 GW of onshore wind and 1.5-2.5 GW of solar PV capacity, the government said in November.

Renewables accounted for 43% of electricity consumed in Ireland during 2020. Gas-fired power met 50% of demand.

Ireland has 4.31 GW of onshore wind but only 25 MW of offshore wind at Arklow Bank.

ESB is the largest generator in the Single Electricity Market of Ireland with a 29% market share. It has 4 GW installed including the 855-MW Moneypoint coal plant, 2-GW of gas-fired plant and 593 MW of wind plant.