Who offers renewable energy in Ireland?
You can reduce your environmental impact by choosing a green energy plan. Here’s how renewable energy in Ireland works and how to switch to a greener tariff.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy comes from sources that are constantly replenished naturally or by a process such as the sun, wind and water. Renewables, sometimes referred to as green energy, are sustainable and renewable energy sources include:
- Solar energy
- Wind energy
- Tidal energy
- Bioenergy
- Hydropower
- Geothermal energy
Unlike coal, oil, natural gas and peat, this type of energy produces zero carbon dioxide emissions when it is generated because no fossil fuels are used to create it.
Renewable energy in Ireland
The development of renewable energy is a key focus of Ireland’s climate change strategy.
- Ireland has committed to a goal of at least 34.1% of its energy coming from renewables by 2030
- This target is part of a binding, EU-wide ‘overall renewable energy share (RES)’, under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDII)
- The EU-wide renewable energy target is 32% by 2030
Ireland has a high fossil fuel dependency, with 85.8% of primary energy coming from oil, natural gas, coal, and peat in 2022, and just 13% from renewables. Learn more at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Which suppliers offer renewable plans?
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) requires that gas and electricity suppliers disclose the sources they use to generate their energy each year.
The latest CRU report Fuel Mix Disclosure 2022 reveals the gas and electricity suppliers in Ireland offering 100% renewable energy.
How green is this renewable energy?
Despite a growing number of renewable energy options, Ireland still heavily relies on fossil fuels.
As we only have enough wind farms and solar parks to supply about 30-40% of the country’s electricity needs, suppliers will try to reach 100% renewable energy by investing in renewable energy abroad, and obtaining green certificates.
This is done under a Europe-wide Guarantees of Origin (GO) scheme.
So where a supplier tariff refers to 100% green energy, this can also mean contractual support for renewables, rather than the physical delivery of renewable electricity.
Suppliers of 100% renewable energy
| Supplier | % Renewable | |
|---|---|---|
| Ecopower | 100% | |
| Energia | 100% | |
| Flogas | 100% | |
| Pinergy | 100% | |
| SSE Airtricity | 100% |
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Suppliers with a fuel mix of less than 100% renewable
Where a supplier has not declared their fuel mix by March 2023, or chose not to disclose, they’ve been assigned the Residual Mix figure of 24.27% renewable.
| Supplier | % Renewable | |
|---|---|---|
| Bord Gáis Energy | 30.38% | |
| Community Power | 42.93% | |
| Electric Ireland | 80.72% | |
| PrepayPower | 25.31% | |
| Water Power | Not declared | |
| Yuno Energy | New supplier - not declared |
Other ways to reduce your carbon footprint
If you are already with a renewable energy supplier but want to reduce your environmental impact further, there are other measures you can take.
How to switch to a renewable energy plan
If you wish to change to a renewable or green energy tariff, it’s easy to do. We help with the switch so saving on your energy bills is quick and straightforward. Simply:
- Tell us about your current energy usage, tariff and supplier
- Choose Green Plans Only in the filter
- We’ll compare all green energy deals on the market
- You choose the plan that’s right for you
- We’ll help you switch
If you’d like to find out more about changing supplier, check out how to switch your gas and electricity and see our step by step guide.
Renewable energy FAQs
Are renewable energy tariffs more expensive?
No, not necessarily. In the past, renewable energy tariffs were more expensive, but things have changed due to more suppliers promoting their green credentials and better infrastructure.
You can still save on your energy bills if you switch from a standard tariff to a renewable energy plan.
What is the residual fuel mix?
The Residual Mix is calculated for Ireland, for Northern Ireland, and on an All-Island basis. It’s the mix of all unclaimed electricity in the system.
It’s the sum of:
- Any generation attributes not assigned to a supplier
- Surplus Guarantees of Origin declared by suppliers
- Unused/cancelled certificates which expired in the disclosure period
What is sustainable energy?
Sustainable energy describes energy that is generated from an energy source that will never deplete, like solar, wind and tidal power.
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