Carbon Emissions by Sector Ireland: Business Impact and Reduction Strategies
Understanding Ireland’s Sectoral Emissions Profile Carbon emissions by sector Ireland data reveals distinct patterns that shape business strategy and policy across the island. With agriculture contributing 37.5% of total emissions compared to the EU average of 10.5%, carbon emissions by sector Ireland present unique challenges and opportunities for organisations operating across Northern Ireland and the […]
Carbon emissions by sector Ireland data reveals distinct patterns that shape business strategy and policy across the island. With agriculture contributing 37.5% of total emissions compared to the EU average of 10.5%, carbon emissions by sector Ireland present unique challenges and opportunities for organisations operating across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This detailed breakdown of carbon emissions by sector Ireland provides essential insights for businesses across all industries.
The All-Ireland Sustainability Network brings together 600+ members actively addressing these sectoral challenges. From agri-food businesses pioneering low-carbon farming to technology companies optimising data centre efficiency, our network shares practical solutions that transform emissions data into actionable strategies.
Agriculture: Ireland’s Largest Emissions Challenge
Agricultural Emissions Breakdown: How Agriculture Dominates Carbon Emissions by Sector Ireland
Leading agri-food members in our network report 25% emissions reductions while maintaining productivity through integrated approaches shared at All-Ireland Sustainability events.
Business Implications
Market Pressures:
Retailer sustainability requirements increasing
Carbon labelling demands from consumers
Export market environmental standards
CAP reform linking payments to emissions
Financial Impact:
Carbon pricing exposure: €2.1 billion by 2030
Sustainability premiums: 8-15% price differential
Green finance access: €450 million available
Efficiency savings: €3,200 average per farm
Transport: The Mobility Transformation
Transport Emissions Analysis
Transport generates 20.2% of Ireland’s emissions:
Modal Breakdown:
Private cars: 54% of transport emissions
Road freight: 28%
Light commercial vehicles: 9%
Public transport: 4%
Aviation (domestic): 3%
Rail and maritime: 2%
Fleet Composition:
2.8 million vehicles total
42,000 electric vehicles (1.5%)
28,000 plug-in hybrids (1%)
Average fleet age: 8.9 years
Annual new registrations: 158,000
Decarbonisation Pathways
Fleet Transformation Strategies:
Passenger Transport:
EV adoption rate: 127% growth year-on-year
Average EV range: 485km
Charging infrastructure: 3,250 public points
TCO parity with petrol: Achieved for >25,000km/year
Members report average fleet emissions reductions of 38% through comprehensive strategies shared in our Transport Working Group.
Energy Supply: Powering the Transition
Energy Sector Emissions Profile
Energy supply contributes 15.4% of national emissions:
Generation Mix Impact:
Natural gas: 51% of generation, 350g CO2/kWh
Coal: 7% of generation, 820g CO2/kWh
Peat: 4% of generation, 930g CO2/kWh
Oil: 2% of generation, 650g CO2/kWh
Renewables: 36% of generation, 0g CO2/kWh
Grid Statistics:
Peak demand: 7,245 MW
Installed capacity: 12,850 MW
Renewable capacity: 5,890 MW
System emissions intensity: 295g CO2/kWh
Annual consumption: 38 TWh
Renewable Integration Progress
Operational Renewable Capacity:
Onshore wind: 4,800 MW
Solar PV: 495 MW
Hydro: 238 MW
Biomass: 122 MW
Offshore wind: 25 MW
Development Pipeline:
Offshore wind: 7,000 MW by 2030
Solar: 5,000 MW planning submitted
Battery storage: 2,800 MW approved
Green hydrogen: 2 GW electrolyser capacity
Interconnection: 1,400 MW additional
Corporate Energy Strategies
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs):
Active corporate PPAs: 847 MW
Average price: €68/MWh
Typical duration: 10-15 years
Price stability benefit: 35% volatility reduction
Additionality achieved: 72% of deals
On-site Generation Adoption:
Rooftop solar installations: 12,400 commercial
Average system size: 285 kW
Self-consumption rate: 78%
Payback period: 5.8 years
Grid export agreements: 41%
Leadership Circle members share PPA strategies and aggregate buying opportunities through exclusive networking sessions.
Buildings: Residential Sector Impact
Residential Emissions Breakdown
Residential buildings generate 11.8% of emissions:
Energy Use Patterns:
Space heating: 61% of residential energy
Water heating: 19%
Appliances: 12%
Lighting: 5%
Cooking: 3%
Housing Stock Characteristics:
Total dwellings: 2.1 million
Average BER rating: D1
Pre-1980 construction: 43%
Using fossil fuel heating: 72%
Apartment living: 12%
Retrofit Revolution
Current Retrofit Activity:
Deep retrofits completed: 38,000 homes
Shallow measures: 285,000 homes
Average investment: €26,500
Energy savings achieved: 47%
Emissions reduction: 4.2 tonnes CO2/year
Technology Deployment:
Heat pumps installed: 67,000
Solar PV systems: 42,000
External insulation: 31,000
Smart heating controls: 156,000
Triple glazing: 23,000
Barriers to Scale:
Upfront cost: €15,000-75,000
Disruption concerns: 67% cite as barrier
Skills shortage: 3,200 qualified contractors
Grant complexity: 44% find process difficult
Payback periods: 8-15 years
Manufacturing: Industrial Decarbonisation
Manufacturing Emissions Sources
Industry generates 10.1% of national emissions:
Sub-sector Contributions:
Cement production: 28% of industrial emissions
Food processing: 22%
Pharmaceuticals: 18%
Electronics: 12%
Chemicals: 11%
Other manufacturing: 9%
Energy Intensity by Sector:
Cement: 4.5 GJ/tonne
Steel: 18 GJ/tonne
Paper: 12 GJ/tonne
Chemicals: 8 GJ/tonne
Food processing: 2.8 GJ/tonne
Decarbonisation Technologies
Adoption Rates:
Energy management systems: 47%
Process optimisation: 38%
Waste heat recovery: 26%
Electrification of heating: 19%
Carbon capture readiness: 8%
Investment Patterns:
Average project size: €2.4 million
Payback period: 3.8 years
Energy cost reduction: 23%
Productivity gains: 14%
Maintenance savings: 18%
Manufacturing members achieve 35% emissions reductions through best practice sharing and technology demonstrations at All-Ireland Sustainability events.
Commercial Services: Office and Retail
Commercial Building Performance
Services sector represents 3.2% of emissions:
Energy Consumption Patterns:
HVAC systems: 48%
Lighting: 24%
IT equipment: 16%
Catering: 8%
Other: 4%
Building Standards:
BREEAM certified: 8% of stock
LEED certified: 4%
Nearly Zero Energy: 2%
BER A-rated: 11%
Solar PV equipped: 19%
Workplace Sustainability
Corporate Initiatives:
LED lighting conversion: 67% complete
Smart building controls: 34%
Renewable energy procurement: 41%
EV charging provision: 28%
Waste segregation: 84%
Remote Working Impact:
Office space reduction: 22% average
Energy consumption decrease: 31%
Commute emissions saved: 1.8 tonnes/employee
Hot-desking adoption: 44%
Collaborative space increase: 38%
Waste Management: Circular Economy Progress
Waste Sector Emissions
Waste contributes 1.8% of emissions through:
Landfill methane: 71% of waste emissions
Biological treatment: 16%
Incineration: 8%
Wastewater: 5%
Waste Generation Rates:
Municipal waste: 3.2 million tonnes
Commercial waste: 4.8 million tonnes
Construction waste: 8.4 million tonnes
Hazardous waste: 580,000 tonnes
Circular Economy Implementation
Material Recovery:
Overall recycling rate: 42%
Organic waste treatment: 38%
Energy recovery: 19%
Landfill diversion: 77%
Material reuse: 8%
Business Circular Strategies:
Product redesign: 26% of manufacturers
Take-back schemes: 31%
Industrial symbiosis: 18%
Material substitution: 44%
Remanufacturing: 12%
Cross-Sector Opportunities
Collaborative Emissions Reduction
Sector Integration Benefits:
Waste-to-energy potential: 450 MW
Agricultural biomethane: 1.1 TWh potential
Industrial heat networks: 35% efficiency gain
Transport-energy coupling: V2G potential 2,800 MW
Building-integrated renewables: 3.5 GW potential
Supply Chain Collaboration:
Scope 3 reporting: 450 large companies
Supplier engagement programmes: 34%
Carbon data sharing: 27%
Joint reduction targets: 19%
Green procurement policies: 61%
Technology Convergence
Digital Solutions Impact:
IoT sensors deployment: 42% energy reduction
AI optimisation: 27% efficiency improvement
Blockchain tracking: 15% implementing
Digital twins: 8% adoption
Predictive maintenance: 31% reduction in emissions
Policy and Market Drivers
Carbon Pricing Impact
Sectoral Exposure:
Current carbon tax: €48.50/tonne CO2
2030 projection: €100/tonne
EU ETS coverage: 45% of emissions
Carbon leakage risk: 164 companies
Financial Implications by Sector:
Agriculture: €2.1 billion exposure by 2030
Transport: €1.8 billion
Manufacturing: €950 million
Buildings: €720 million
Services: €340 million
Regulatory Requirements
Compliance Obligations:
CSRD reporting: 1,500 companies affected
Taxonomy alignment: 38% of economy
Science-based targets: 127 companies committed
CDP disclosure: 89 Irish companies
Investment Requirements
Sectoral Capital Needs
Decarbonisation Investment to 2030:
Transport electrification: €8.4 billion
Building retrofits: €12.2 billion
Renewable energy: €15.8 billion
Industrial efficiency: €4.6 billion
Agricultural transition: €3.2 billion
Grid infrastructure: €6.9 billion
Funding Availability:
Government programmes: €9.5 billion
EU funding: €4.2 billion
Private capital committed: €18.6 billion
Green bonds potential: €8.3 billion
Gap requiring mobilisation: €12.8 billion
Success Metrics and KPIs
Measuring Sectoral Progress
Key Performance Indicators:
Emissions intensity reduction rates
Renewable energy adoption percentages
Energy efficiency improvements
Circular economy metrics
Investment mobilisation tracking
Benchmarking Performance:
Leading companies: 45% below sector average
All-Ireland Sustainability members: 32% better than peers
Award winners: 51% emissions reduction achieved
Best-in-class: Approaching net-zero
Turning Sector Data into Strategy
Understanding carbon emissions by sector Ireland enables targeted action. Whether you’re in agriculture, transport, manufacturing or services, these insights guide effective decarbonisation strategies. The gap between current emissions and 2030 targets represents both challenge and opportunity.
All-Ireland Sustainability members access sector-specific working groups, peer benchmarking, and exclusive resources that transform this data into practical implementation plans. Our cross-sector network facilitates partnerships and knowledge transfer that accelerate progress.
Our upcoming webinar series “Sectoral Deep Dives: Pathways to Net-Zero” provides detailed analysis and case studies. Members attend free; non-members pay €95 per session.
Data compiled from EPA, SEAI, CSO, DAERA, Climate Change Advisory Council, and All-Ireland Sustainability Network member reports.
