Ireland's energy needs heavily reliant on imports, report finds

Ireland's energy security remains precarious, with imported fossil fuels meeting over 78% of the nation's needs in 2025, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). This figure significantly exceeds the European Union average of 57%, placing Ireland among the highest importers in the bloc.

Oil products alone accounted for 48.9% of Ireland's total primary energy requirements, leaving the economy exposed to international geopolitical risks and fluctuating global markets. SEAI CEO William Walsh highlighted the vulnerability, noting how recent sharp increases in global oil and gas prices directly impact home heating bills, transport costs, and business overheads.

“

While we are making some progress on renewables - with solar in particular continuing its remarkable growth, Ireland is still too reliant on imported fossil fuels, leaving our economy vulnerable to events outside of our control.

While renewable energy sources contributed 15.9% of energy needs in 2025, marking a 6.8% increase from the previous year, this growth is overshadowed by the continued reliance on imports. Solar PV saw remarkable growth, generating 50% more energy than in 2024. However, wind generation, Ireland's primary renewable source, experienced a more modest increase of just over 3%, falling short of the Climate Plan 2025 target.

Despite these challenges, overall energy-related emissions decreased last year to below 30 megatons of CO2 equivalent for the first time. Emissions are now 19% below 2018 levels, aligning with the trajectory needed for the 2030 target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction was achieved despite population growth and an increasing number of vehicles.

“

We've seen in recent months how quickly sharp increases in global oil and gas prices can feed into our home heating bills, transport costs and overheads for business.