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The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has opened a consultation to seek views from interested parties on the potential introduction of a new Renewable Heat Obligation. This obligation, if introduced, would require the suppliers of energy used in the heat sector in Ireland to ensure that a certain proportion of the energy supplied is renewable.

Action 57b of the Climate Action Plan targets a decision being published by the end of this year on whether such an obligation should be introduced, along with the planned timeframe and scope. This consultation will inform the decision on whether and how such an obligation might be implemented in Ireland in the coming years.

It should be noted that no decisions have yet been made in relation to whether an obligation should be put in place and, if one were to be, how it would be structured. This will only be determined once the public consultation has been completed.

Any possible impacts of introducing a Renewable Heat Obligation on lower-income households in or at risk of energy poverty will be assessed and addressed as part of this process. 

Why a Renewable Heat Obligation?

Currently in Ireland 6.3% of heat sector demand is met by energy from renewable sources – e.g. biomass and biogas. This is the lowest percentage of any Member State and is well below the European Union average of 22%. While some progress is being made in terms of increasing the use of renewable heat in Ireland more needs to be done. An obligation in the heat sector would incentivise the use of renewable heat. Such an obligation could be spread across all non-renewable fuel types.

The overall objective of a Renewable Heat Obligation would essentially be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the heat sector, though increased use of sustainable renewable energy – thus contributing to the Programme for Government’s target of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

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Further information

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/7bc5b-consultation-on-the-introduction-of-a-renewable-heat-obligation/. The closing time and date is 5:00pm on Friday, 1st October, 2021.