C 334/58
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
1.9.2022
(26)
According to 2020 data, Ireland does not import crude oil or gas from Russia.
Ireland’s dependence on Russian coal (22 % of coal imports) is lower than the Union average, in a context where the weight of solid fossil fuels in the energy mix (7,6 %) is also lower than in the Union average.
While Ireland has a more limited exposure to Russian oil and gas than the Union average, the current geopolitical situation and high energy prices increase the urgency for Ireland to step up its efforts to meet the renewable targets laid down in the national energy and climate plan.
Ireland’s climate action plan includes the ambitious goal of transforming the country’s energy system by 2030.
This will enable Ireland to achieve a 51 % reduction in total greenhouse-gas emissions between 2018 and 2030.
The necessary reforms and the magnitude of this transformation will be considerable, from securing the necessary public and private investment to delivering commitments on time.
A comprehensive upgrade of Ireland’s energy infrastructure is required to benefit fully from renewable energy sources and achieve Ireland’s climate objectives.
Creating an investment framework conducive to facilitating and incentivising investment in the green energy transition will be key to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
For renewables, challenges persist in the planning and permit system, particularly on the long duration of planning permission procedures and the lengthy and costly appeal procedures.
Improving the efficiency of the planning and permit system by ensuring that appropriate resources are available at all stages of planning processes and by streamlining the overall framework could speed up large-scale developments, thereby accelerating the green transition.
In addition, expanding and reinforcing the electricity grid and supporting infrastructure at key locations will be pivotal to reducing congestion and improving its stability.
In particular, new electricity transmission interconnectors to neighbouring countries will support greater security of energy supply.
Increased storage capacity and the mass roll-out of charging points for electric vehicles will also be needed.
In addition, the development of a national renewable hydrogen strategy would also help diversify the energy mix.
(27)
Energy-efficiency measures will play a key role in reducing energy consumption.
High energy savings are necessary to achieve not only Ireland’s climate objectives, but also the Union-wide target of reducing net greenhouse-gas emissions by 55 %.
While the climate action plan is on the right track, Ireland has so far lagged behind in terms of greenhouse-gas emission reductions.
By applying the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle and pursuing deep energy savings in buildings, Ireland could reduce its dependence on energy imports.
Higher levels of electric vehicles could take advantage of domestic electricity generation rather than relying on fuel imports.
As the climate action plan includes a target of one million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030, a significant rollout of electric charging points is needed.
A further increase in ambition in respect of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing renewables and energy efficiency will be needed in order for Ireland to be in line with the ‘Fit for 55’ objectives.
(28)
While the acceleration of the transition towards climate neutrality and away from fossil fuels will create significant restructuring costs in several sectors, Ireland can make use of the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to alleviate the socioeconomic impact of the transition in the most-affected regions.
In addition, Ireland can make use of the European Social Fund Plus, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council (19), to improve employment opportunities and strengthen social cohesion.
(29)
In the light of the Commission’s assessment, the Council has examined the 2022 Stability Programme and its opinion (20) is reflected in recommendation (1).
(30)
In view of the close interlinkages between the economies of euro-area Member States and their collective contribution to the functioning of the economic and monetary union, the Council recommended that the euroarea Member States take action, including through their recovery and resilience plans, to implement the recom­ mendations set out in the 2022 Recommendation on the euro area.
For Ireland, this is reflected in particular in recommendations (1) and (2),
(19) Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013 (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 21).
(20) Under Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1466/97.