Renewable electricity output in Ireland
Ireland: Renewable electricity output was 37.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Renewable electricity output in Ireland, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total electricity output.
Analysis
The most recent figure for renewable electricity output in Ireland is 37.2%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and up 86.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable electricity output in Ireland peaked at 42.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1996.
That places Ireland 82nd out of 210 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Renewable electricity output in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of total electricity output | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.8% | — |
| 1991 | 4.9% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -7.3% |
| 1994 | 5.5% | +15.4% |
| 1995 | 4.1% | -25.6% |
| 1996 | 4.0% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 5.5% | +36.4% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 6.2% | +21.7% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | -12.9% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | +27.1% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | -13.8% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | +15.2% |
| 2005 | 8.5% | +24.9% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | +21.0% |
| 2007 | 11.0% | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +18.2% |
| 2009 | 15.8% | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 13.8% | -12.8% |
| 2011 | 19.9% | +44.8% |
| 2012 | 19.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 23.0% | +15.2% |
| 2014 | 25.5% | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 28.6% | +12.2% |
| 2016 | 25.5% | -10.8% |
| 2017 | 29.3% | +15.0% |
| 2018 | 33.4% | +13.9% |
| 2019 | 38.7% | +15.9% |
| 2020 | 42.4% | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 37.2% | -12.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.8% | 4.0% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 5.4% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.8% | 13.8% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.8% | 37.2% | 42.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 79 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 38.2% compare
- 80 Faroe Islands 38.1% compare
- 81 Tanzania, United Republic of 37.2% compare
- 83 Slovenia 36.1% compare
- 84 Türkiye 35.4% compare
- 85 Djibouti 35.4% compare
More energy & mining data for Ireland
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 6.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable electricity output in Ireland?
- Renewable electricity output in Ireland was 37.2% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest renewable electricity output recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 42.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest renewable electricity output recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1996.
- How does Ireland rank for renewable electricity output?
- Ireland ranks 82nd out of 210 countries with data for 2021.
- Is renewable electricity output rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable electricity is the share of electricity generated by renewable power plants in total electricity generated by all types of plants.