Electric.ie July/ August 2020

ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 43 Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use down almost 4% in 2019 S EAI released data which shows that CO2 emissions from all energy use fell 3.9% in 2019, equivalent to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂. This marks the biggest annual reduction in CO2 emissions since 2011, at the height of the last recession. Emissions in 2019 were 22% below 2005 levels, but are higher than 2014, when we emerged from recession. The fall was due mostly to a reduction in coal used for generating electricity, which fell by 70% compared to the previous year. The Provisional Energy Balance 2019 figures comprises analysis of Ireland’s energy supply for last year. ‒ Emissions fell by 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 - the biggest reduction since 2011. Overall energy use fell by 1.2% while economy grew 5.5% - www.seai.ie Industry News The main findings show: • Overall energy use fell by 1.2% while the economy grew by 5.5% • Coal use in electricity generation fell by 70% in 2019 with the Moneypoint electricity generating station operating at reduced capacity. • The reduction in electricity generated by coal was partly made up by a 9% increase in wind generated electricity, which supplied almost one third of all electricity. The remainder of the shortfall came mostly from increased net imports of electricity. • These changes have resulted in the CO2 intensity of electricity falling by 12% to a new low of 331 gCO2/kWh in 2019. The renewable share of gross final consumption of electricity in 2019 increased to 36.6% (33.3% in 2018). Wind contributed 31.5% points of this. • Energy from all renewable sources grew by 6.5% in 2019 and accounted for 11% of all energy used. • Natural gas use grew by 2% and accounted for 32% of all energy use. • Oil use increased by 0.6% and accounted for 50% of all energy use. • Import dependency (the share of energy imported, as opposed to sourced in Ireland) increased to 69%, up from 67% in 2018. Recruiting? Included in the Job Section at www. electric.ie at no extra charge (for a limited period) Advertise your job here! • MCC Boards • Form 2 & 4 Distribution Boards • Variable Speed Drives • PLC Control • Multi-metering Cabinets • Energy Measurement • Power Factor Correction • Plus much more MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS OF: • NO OBLIGATION QUOTATION • FREE DELIVERY Unit 2A Milltown Business Park, Co Monaghan T: 00353 47 72265 - E: info@troypanels.com www.troypanels.com