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 natural sources that are continually replenished, such as the sun, wind and water. It’s often referred to as green energy because it produces far lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.
- Solar energy
- Wind energy
- Tidal energy
- Bioenergy
- Hydropower
- Geothermal energy
Unlike coal, oil or natural gas, renewable energy doesn’t release carbon dioxide when electricity is generated - making it a more sustainable option for homes aiming to lower their environmental impact.
Renewable energy in Ireland
Ireland is rapidly increasing the amount of renewable electricity on the national grid, with strong climate targets and significant investment in wind and solar generation.
- Ireland has committed to a goal of at least 34.1% of its energy coming from renewables by 2030
- This forms part of the EU’s legally binding Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) targets.
- The wider EU renewable energy target is 42.5% by 2030, with an ambition to reach 45%.
A large share of Ireland’s renewable electricity already comes from onshore wind, with solar capacity growing each year. Despite this, Ireland still has a high fossil-fuel dependency.
In 2022, 85.8% of primary energy came from oil, natural gas, coal and peat, with only 13% from renewables.
Learn more at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Which suppliers offer renewable 100% renewable energy?
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 2024 reveals the gas and electricity suppliers in Ireland offering 100% renewable energy.
While not all suppliers offer 100% renewable fuel mix, many offer green-backed plans.
Suppliers of 100% renewable energy
| Supplier | % Renewable | |
|---|---|---|
| Bord Gáis Energy | 100% | |
| Ecopower | 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 2025, or chose not to disclose, they’ve been assigned a Residual Mix figure of 26.88% renewable.
| Supplier | % Renewable | |
|---|---|---|
| Community Power | 54.69% | |
| Electric Ireland | 67% | |
| Energia | 75.48% | |
| PrepayPower | 29.96% | |
| Water Power | Not declared | |
| Yuno Energy | Not declared |
What does ‘100% renewable’ really mean? (GOs explained)
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% renewable energy, or a green tariff, this can also mean contractual support for renewables, rather than the physical delivery of renewable electricity.
Green electricity tariffs
Even if a supplier’s overall fuel mix is not 100% renewable, some offer green electricity tariffs backed by renewable certificates or direct renewable generation.
Current suppliers who don’t have a 100% renewable fuel mix, but offer green energy plans include:
Green plans vs 100% renewable fuel mix
If you’re choosing between a green plan and a 100% renewable supplier, it’s helpful to understand how each one works. Use this table to see the key differences at a glance.
| Feature / criteria | 100% renewable tariff (fuel mix-based) | Green electricity plan (product-based) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it refers to | The supplier’s overall annual fuel mix | A specific tariff offered by the supplier | |
| How it’s reported | Declared in the CRU fuel mix disclosure report | Verified in the CRU green source product verification report | |
| How renewable matching works | Supplier sources all electricity from renewable generation or certificates | Supplier buys GOs or PPAs to match customer usage on that plan | |
| Applies to | All electricity supplied by that supplier during the year | Only customers on the designated green tariff | |
| Key takeaway | A 100% renewable supplier has a fully renewable fuel mix | A supplier can offer a green plan even if their total fuel mix isn’t 100% renewable |
CRU Green Source Product Verification (GSPV) Report 2024
The Green Source Product Verification Report 2024 independently verifies which electricity plans marketed as ‘green’ are legitimately backed by renewable energy.
The report checks that:
- suppliers purchase enough Guarantees of Origin (GOs) to match customer usage
- certificates are valid, traceable and correctly allocated
- environmental claims are accurate and not misleading
- Only tariffs listed in this report are officially recognised by the CRU as verified green electricity plans.
How renewable electricity plans work
Renewable energy plans match the electricity you use with electricity generated from renewable sources.
You will still receive the same physical electricity from the national grid - but the supplier guarantees that the amount you use is covered by renewable generation.
A green plan doesn’t change the physical electricity you get, it changes how your supplier sources or backs the electricity they allocate to you. Green tariffs in Ireland are supported by the following:
Supplier fuel mix (CRU disclosure)
Each year the CRU publishes an official fuel mix for every supplier. This shows how much of the supplier’s electricity comes from renewable generation or is backed by renewable certificates.
Guarantees of Origin (GOs)
Suppliers can purchase Guarantees of Origin to certify that a portion of their electricity is matched with renewable energy. This allows them to offer green tariffs even if the physical mix includes fossil fuels.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
Some suppliers buy electricity directly from renewable generators through long-term PPAs. This supports new renewable projects and increases the supplier’s overall renewable content.
Green source product verification (CRU)
The CRU’s green source product verification report confirms that suppliers offering green plans have enough valid GOs to cover them. Only plans listed in the report are officially verified as green products.
Are green tariffs more expensive?
Green tariffs are not always more expensive, and in recent years many suppliers have priced their renewable plans at the same level - or cheaper - than standard tariffs.
The price difference depends on:
- How the tariff is sourced: Renewable-backed tariffs rely on certificates, which generally cost less than fossil-based generation.
- The level of discounts offered: Some suppliers offer introductory discounts on green tariffs, making them comparable to standard plans.
- Market conditions: Electricity prices change depending on wholesale costs. When renewable generation is high, green tariffs may become more competitive.
However, this is most noticeable with dynamic tariffs - energy plans with prices that change in real-time depending on market prices; which tend to be lower when renewable generation is high.
For fixed-price green tariffs, the price may not change as often, but the overall cost is still influenced by the underlying market price of electricity, which is increasingly impacted by renewables.
Dynamic Tariffs
While traditional green energy plans offer electricity from renewable sources at fixed or variable rates, Dynamic Tariffs can help you align your energy usage with cleaner, greener power.
Dynamic tariffs are a type of smart meter plan, and reflect real-time electricity prices based on supply and demand.
In practice, this means:
- When renewables like wind or solar are generating lots of energy, electricity becomes cleaner and more affordable, and your tariff decreases.
- This encourages households to shift their usage to greener periods, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting a more sustainable energy system.
Though not yet available in Ireland, larger energy suppliers are legally required to offer dynamic tariffs by June 2026.
As smart meters roll out across the country, dynamic pricing will give consumers more control and more ways to use renewable energy efficiently.
Our comprehensive guide to Dynamic Tariffs covers everything you need to know, from how they work to how to compare plans and find the best fit for your home.
How to switch to a green plan
If you wish to change to a green energy tariff, it’s easy to do. We help with the switch so saving on your energy bills is quick and straightforward. Simply:
- Use our comparison tool 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.
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.
Renewable energy FAQs
Are renewable energy tariffs more expensive?
Not necessarily. Green tariffs used to cost more, but this has changed as more suppliers offer 100% renewable or renewable-backed plans.
Some green tariffs are now priced similarly to standard plans, and smart or time-of-use options can reduce costs further if you shift usage to off-peak times.
What is the residual fuel mix?
The residual mix is the percentage of electricity that has not been claimed by any supplier using Guarantees of Origin (GOs).
The CRU assigns this mix to any supplier who does not declare their fuel mix. It represents “unclaimed” electricity on the system once all certificates are accounted for.
What is sustainable energy?
Sustainable energy comes from sources that naturally replenish and do not run out, such as wind, solar, hydro and tidal power. These sources produce little or no carbon emissions during generation.
What’s the difference between a green tariff and a 100% renewable tariff?
A 100% renewable tariff means the supplier’s electricity supply is fully matched with renewable generation according to the CRU’s fuel mix.
A green tariff may be backed by renewable certificates (GOs) even if the supplier’s overall fuel mix is not 100% renewable.
Does a green tariff mean the electricity to my home is 100% renewable?
No. All electricity comes from the national grid, which contains a mix of renewable and non-renewable generation.
A green tariff means your supplier matches your usage with renewable energy or certificates, not that the electricity entering your home is exclusively renewable.
Do I need a smart meter to get a green tariff?
No, green tariffs and smart tariffs are two different things. A green tariff is about how your electricity is sourced.
It means your supplier matches your usage with renewable electricity, either through its own renewable generation or renewable-backed certificates (GOs). You can choose a green tariff whether you have a traditional meter, a day/night meter or a smart meter.
A smart tariff is about when you use electricity. These plans use your smart meter to offer different rates at different times of day, such as cheaper night rates or EV charging hours. A smart tariff does not automatically mean the electricity is renewable.
Some suppliers offer both - for example, a green tariff that also uses time-of-use pricing - but the two features are separate.
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