Public Consultation: Shaping Our Electricity Future

We want to hear your views on our four draft approaches to ensuring at least 70% of Ireland’s electricity comes from renewable targets by 2030. 

At present, around 40% of electricity used throughout the year comes from clean generation. The 70% target is a step towards the ultimate goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is essential to reduce the life-threatening risks of the climate crisis.

The Irish Government has asked us to make the grid ready so that at least 70% of Ireland’s electricity can come from renewable sources by 2030. 

How will the grid prepare for clean electricity?

To prepare for this change, EirGrid must make the electricity grid stronger and more flexible. The grid will need to carry more power, and most of this power will come from renewable generation that varies depending on the weather. Where we can, we will use the existing grid to meet this goal. However, given the scale of change, we will also need to plan for a great deal of new grid infrastructure – such as underground cables, pylons and substations.

How can you help?

We want to hear your thoughts on our four draft approaches, so we can agree on an approach to reach the 2030 targets. The move to clean electricity will affect everyone in Ireland – we want to work with the public to find the best way of shaping our electricity future.

What are we asking you to consider?

This document explains proposed changes that will affect the future of electricity in Ireland. We need to add a lot of new sources of clean electricity, and these are typically far away from where electricity is used. This document suggests four draft approaches in response. We want to hear your views to help shape our final strategy.

Please read the information we’ve provided on our four draft approaches then tell us what you think, using any of the contact methods listed below.

How can you influence our thinking?

We want to hear your views on our four draft approaches to ensuring at least 70% of Ireland’s electricity comes from renewable targets by 2030. This content summarises our four draft approaches in early 2021. We now want to hear your views, so we can refine and improve our approaches in a final strategy by the end of the year. We will be running a range of initiatives to allow the public to make their views known on our draft approaches.

What happens next?

When we have received all feedback, we will then consider how best to respond. Our goal is to publish a plan for Our Electricity Future before the end of 2021.

Get involved - Our plans to learn the views of stakeholders on our draft approaches

We are working with a range of partners to help stakeholders have their say and engage directly with us. These include:

• Working with Irish Rural Link to host workshops for communities and the public across Ireland throughout April and May. Watch and download the presentations here.
• Working with Chambers Ireland to host workshops for businesses across Ireland through March, April and May.
• Working with the National Youth Council of Ireland to host a Youth Assembly in April for future electricity consumers. Find out more here.
• Hosting an Industry Forum. This will bring together generation companies and developers, large energy users and suppliers. Download the presentation and watch back here.
• Hosting a Civic Society Forum in May. This brought together representatives from a wide range of disciplines. These include academia, agriculture, community, environment, sustainable development and social justice. Download the presentation here or watch back here.
• We also hosted a Celiberate Dialogue, similar to the Citizens’ Assemblies run by the Government. This allowed members of the public – independently recruited by a research company – to take part in a group discussion.

Each of these initiatives will produce outcome reports which we will publish on this portal. If you would like to participate in one of these events, please get in touch with us or find out more on how to get involved by emailing consult@eirgrid.ie.