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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aecom. (2015). Ex-post evaluation of smarter travel areas: Interim report 2015. Dublin: Aecom. http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/corporate/english/sta-interim-evaluation-report/sta-interim-evaluation-report.pdf. Accessed 7 Oct 2018.
Andrews-Speed, P. (2016). Applying institutional theory to the low-carbon energy transition. Energy Research & Social Science, 13, 216–225.
Baker, N. (2011, November 30). Many boom buildings do not meet standards. Irish Examiner. https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/many-boom-buildings-do-not-meet-standards-175507.html. Accessed 20 July 2018.
Barry, F., Hannan, A., & Strobl, E. A. (1999). The real convergence of the Irish economy and the sectoral distribution of employment growth. In F. Barry (Ed.), Understanding Ireland’s economic growth. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Burck, J., Marten, F., Bals, C., & Höhne, N. (2018). The climate change performance index: Results 2018. Berlin: Germanwatch.
CBI. (2017). Stepping up to the challenge: Creating a globally competitive low-carbon economy in 2030. London: Confederation of British Industry.
CCAC. (2016). First report of the climate change advisory council. Dublin: Climate Change Advisory Council.
CCAC. (2017). Annual review 2017. Dublin: Climate Change Advisory Council.
CCAC. (2018). Annual review 2018. Dublin: Climate Change Advisory Council.
CER. (2014). Strategic plan 2014–18. Dublin: Commission for Energy Regulation.
Chiodi, A., Gargiulo, M., Rogan, F., Deane, J. P., Lavigne, D., Rout, U. K., et al. (2013). Modelling the impacts of challenging 2050 European climate mitigation targets on Ireland’s energy system. Energy Policy, 53, 169–189.
Citizens’ Assembly. (2018). Third report and recommendations of the citizens’ assembly: How the state can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change. Dublin: Citizens’ Assembly.
CSO. (2017). Irish industrial production by sector: CSO statistcal release, 27 July. https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/iips/irishindustrialproductionbysector2016/. Accessed 18 July 2018.
Cullinane, M., & Watson, C. (2014). Irish public service broadcasting and the climate change challenge: Summary of research findings. Dublin: RTÉ Audience Council.
Curtin, J. (2017). A just transition to a low-carbon economy: Implications for IMPACT and its members. Dublin: IMPACT.
DCCAE. (2017a). National energy efficiency action plan for Ireland # 4, 2017–2020. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
DCCAE. (2017b). Minister Naughten appoints new Chair of National Dialogue on Climate Action Advisory Group. https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/news-and-media/press-releases/Pages/Press-Release-Minister-Denis-Naughten-appoints-new-Chair-of-National-Dialogue-on-Climate-Action-Advisory-Group.aspx. Accessed 19 July 2018.
DCCAE. (2017c). National mitigation plan. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
DCCAE. (2018a). Annual transition statement 2018. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
DCCAE. (2018b). Biofuels obligation scheme policy statement April 2018. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
DCCAE. (2018c). Gas. https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/energy/topics/gas/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 20 July 2018.
DCCAE. (2018d). Renewable electricity support scheme (RESS): High level design. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
DCCAE. (2019). Climate action plan 2019 to tackle climate breakdown. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
DCENR. (2015). Ireland’s transition to a low carbon energy future, 2015–2030. Dublin: Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
DCMNR. (2007). Delivering a sustainable energy future for Ireland. Dublin: Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Devaney, L., & Torney, D. (2019). Advancing the low-carbon transition in Irish transport. NESC Research Series Paper No. 13. Dublin: National Economic and Social Council.
DTTAS (2018). Transport trends: An overview of Ireland’s transport sector 2018. Dublin: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/corporate/english/transport-trends/transport-trends-2018.pdf. Accessed 7 Oct 2018.
EirGrid. (2017). Ireland’s grid development strategy: Your grid, your tomorrow. Dublin: EirGrid.
EPA. (2018). Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions projections, 2017–2035. http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/air/airemissions/ghgprojections2017-2035/EPA_2018_GHG_Emissions_Projections_Summary_Report.pdf. Accessed 19 July 2018.
European Environment Agency. (2018). Trends and projections in Europe 2018: Tracking progress towards Europe’s climate and energy targets. Copenhagen: European Environment Agency.
Eurostat. (2018a). Greenhouse gas emissions per capita. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=t2020_rd300&plugin=1. Accessed 19 July 2018.
Eurostat. (2018b). Population density. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tps00003&plugin=1. Accessed 18 July 2018.
FitzGerald, J., & Valeri, L. M. (2014). Irish energy policy: An analysis of current issues. Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute.
Fox, E., & Rau, H. (2016). Climate change communication in Ireland. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.013.459.
Gilardi, F. (2005). The formal independence of regulators: A comparison of 17 countries and 7 sectors. Swiss Political Science Review, 11(4), 139–167.
Government of Ireland. (2010). National Renewable Energy Action Plan – Ireland. http://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/The%20National%20Renewable%20Energy%20Action%20Plan%20(PDF).pdf. Accessed 20 July 2018.
Government of Ireland. (2014). Climate action and low-carbon development: National Policy Position Ireland. Dublin: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Government of Ireland. (2016). Programme for a partnership government. https://www.merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/Programme_for_Partnership_Government.pdf. Accessed 3 Dec 2018.
Hamilton, P. (2017, July 20). Texan gas company NextDecade signs deal with Port of Cork. Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/energy-and-resources/texan-gas-company-nextdecade-signs-deal-with-port-of-cork-1.3161212. Accessed 20 July 2018.
Hardiman, N., & Scott, C. (2010). Governance as polity: An institutional approach to the evolution of state functions in Ireland. Public Administration, 88(1), 170–189.
Harrington, T. (2016). Accountability and regulatory governance in a cross-jurisdictional market: A case study of the all-island energy market (Ireland). Doctorate in Governance (DGov) thesis, Queens University Belfast.
Houses of the Oireachtas. (2019). Report of the Joint Committee on Climate Action: Climate change - a cross-party consensus for action. Dublin: Houses of the Oireachtas.
Hyland, M., Lyons, R. C., & Lyons, S. (2013). The value of domestic building energy efficiency: Evidence from Ireland. Energy Economics, 40, 943–952.
IPCC. (2018). Global Warming of 1.5°C. Geneva: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Kuzemko, C., Lockwood, M., Mitchell, C., & Hoggett, R. (2016). Governing for sustainable energy system change: Politics, contexts and contingency. Energy Research & Social Science, 12, 96–105.
Lockwood, M., Kuzemko, C., Mitchell, C., & Hoggett, R. (2017). Historical institutionalism and the politics of sustainable energy transitions: A research agenda. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 35(2), 312–333.
MacCarthaigh, M. (2011). Politics, policy preferences and the evolution of Irish bureaucracy: A framework for analysis. Irish Political Studies, 27(1), 23–47.
NESC. (2012). Ireland and the climate change challenge: Connecting ‘how much’ with ‘how to’. Dublin: National Economic and Social Council.
NESC. (2014). Wind energy in Ireland: Building community engagement and social support. Dublin: National Economic and Social Council.
NTA. (2018). About the authority. https://www.nationaltransport.ie/about-us/. Accessed 19 July 2018.
Ó Gallachóir, B. P., Chiodi, A., Gargiulo, M., Deane, P., Lavigne, D., & Rout, U. K. (2012). Irish TIMES Energy Systems Model (EPA climate change research program report CCRP 2008 3.1). Wexford: Environmental Protection Agency.
O’Sullivan, K. P. V., & Kennedy, T. (2010). What caused the Irish banking crisis? Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, 18(3), 224–242.
OECD. (2018). OECD economic surveys: Ireland. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Robbins, D. (2019). Climate change, politics and the press in Ireland. Abingdon: Routledge.
Schillemans, T., & Busuioc, M. (2014). Predicting public sector accountability: From agency drift to forum drift. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 25, 191–215.
SEAI. (2016a). Energy in Ireland 1990–2015. Dublin: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
SEAI. (2016b). Energy security in Ireland: A statistical overview. Dublin: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
SEAI. (2017). Energy in Ireland 1990–2016. Dublin: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
SEAI. (2018a). Energy in Ireland: 2018 report. Dublin: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
SEAI. (2018b). Support scheme for renewable heat. https://www.seai.ie/sustainable-solutions/support-scheme-renewable-/. Accessed 20 July 2018.
Stanley, S., Lyons, R. C., & Lyons, S. (2016). The price effect of building energy ratings in the Dublin residential market. Energy Efficiency, 9(4), 875–885.
Teagasc. (2018). Agriculture in Ireland. https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/rural-economy/agri-food-business/agriculture-in-ireland/. Accessed 18 July 2018.
Torney, D. (2017). If at first you don’t succeed: The development of climate change legislation in Ireland. Irish Political Studies, 32(2), 247–267.
Torney, D. (2018). Enabling decarbonisation: A study of energy sector governance in Ireland (Climate change research program report 246). Wexford: Environmental Protection Agency.
Unruh, G. C. (2000). Understanding carbon lock-in. Energy Policy, 28(12), 817–830.
Unruh, G. C. (2002). Escaping carbon lock-in. Energy Policy, 30, 317–325.
Acknowledgments
I am grateful to Michèle Knodt and Jörg Kemmerzell as well as to the participants in the authors’ workshop in Darmstadt in November 2017 for helpful comments on an earlier version of this chapter. Some of the research underpinning this chapter was supported by a small-scale study grant from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (2016-CCRP-SS.15).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Torney, D. (2019). Energy Governance in Ireland. In: Knodt, M., Kemmerzell, J. (eds) Handbook of Energy Governance in Europe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73526-9_14-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73526-9_14-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73526-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73526-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Political Science and International StudiesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences