An all-island engineers' body has raised serious concerns about the Irish Government’s ambitious goal to fully decarbonise the electricity sector by 2050, stating it is "impossible" under current plans.
In a new report, the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) outlined that over 350 major energy infrastructure projects will be required to meet the target. These projects include transmission lines, onshore and offshore wind farms, solar developments, interconnectors, energy storage facilities and backup generation systems.
Despite these massive requirements, the IAE claims there is no detailed plan in place to deliver them.
But according to the IAE, current battery storage technologies will only support the grid for a maximum of two hours, while renewable sources like wind and solar may underperform for days or even weeks at a time.
The engineers’ group also recommended the urgent development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities to protect Ireland’s energy security—something they say has been flagged repeatedly in the State’s National Risk Assessments since 2014.
In a strongly-worded statement, the academy said the Government had committed to the zero-emissions electricity system target and to costly EU penalties for failing to deliver it, without demonstrating how the goal would be achieved or the full cost to consumers.
Ireland has legally committed to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) have warned the country is not on track to meet this target.
The IAE’s warning is the latest in a series of expert critiques raising doubts about Ireland’s climate roadmap, amid growing pressure to balance long-term environmental goals with realistic implementation and affordability for consumers.
In a new report, the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) outlined that over 350 major energy infrastructure projects will be required to meet the target. These projects include transmission lines, onshore and offshore wind farms, solar developments, interconnectors, energy storage facilities and backup generation systems.
Despite these massive requirements, the IAE claims there is no detailed plan in place to deliver them.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr O'Reilly stressed that Ireland’s electricity demand is projected to rise dramatically—from 34 terawatt hours in 2024 to around 80 terawatt hours by 2050, driven largely by the electrification of heating and transport.
But according to the IAE, current battery storage technologies will only support the grid for a maximum of two hours, while renewable sources like wind and solar may underperform for days or even weeks at a time.
The engineers’ group also recommended the urgent development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities to protect Ireland’s energy security—something they say has been flagged repeatedly in the State’s National Risk Assessments since 2014.
In a strongly-worded statement, the academy said the Government had committed to the zero-emissions electricity system target and to costly EU penalties for failing to deliver it, without demonstrating how the goal would be achieved or the full cost to consumers.
Ireland has legally committed to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) have warned the country is not on track to meet this target.
The IAE’s warning is the latest in a series of expert critiques raising doubts about Ireland’s climate roadmap, amid growing pressure to balance long-term environmental goals with realistic implementation and affordability for consumers.
