The ESB has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade earlier than the deadline set in law by the government for the country to become "climate neutral", with the state-owned electricity provider set to push more resources into offshore wind power.
The company has set out plans to decarbonise electricity generation, build resilient infrastructure and "empower" customers to make carbon savings in its Driven to Make a Difference: Net Zero by 2040 strategy.
Under the plan, ESB aims to increase it renewable energy generation capacity from under 1 gigawatt to 5 gigawatt through the proliferation of wind, solar and storage technologies such as batteries and hydrogen, and reduce its carbon intensity by two-thirds, from 414gCO2 per KWh to 140gCO2 per KWh, by 2030.
It will also invest in maintaining electricity resilience and in system services to help system operators cope with high volumes of renewable energy.
ESB and NIE Network, in collaboration with Eirgrid and SONI, have also committed to increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be generated through their electricity transmission and distribution network across the island of Ireland from 6.2GW to 15GW over the next decade.
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In terms of empowering customers, ESB will double the number of electric vehicle charge points it operates to 3,000 by 2030, and it has said it will retrofit 35,000 homes through its Ireland Superhomes partnership with the Tipperary Energy Agency.
Speaking at the launch, Paddy Hayes, CEO of ESB, said the company would focus its efforts on the areas where it can make the biggest impact by "creating and connecting sustainable, reliable, affordable electricity" and "supporting the customers and communities we serve to achieve net zero.
"By setting a clear, timebound ambition to achieve net zero by 2040, along with a Science Based Target for 2030, we are determined to play our part in taking urgent action to combat climate change, delivering a brighter future," he added.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said: "The window of time to stabilise our climate is closing. Here in Ireland we recently passed the Climate Act, placing us on the journey to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
"I welcome the ambition and urgency shown by ESB in its Net Zero 2040 strategy launched today that sets a clear direction and exercises leadership in tackling climate change. "
The strategy also outlines provisions to develop distribution networks to support the electrification of almost 1.3m EVs and 660,000 heat pumps as well as install 2.6m smart meters on behalf of the CRU, an bring fibre broadband to 770,000 through its SIRO joint venture with Vodafone.
Mr Ryan welcomed "the multi-billion investment to repurpose our electricity system to power 1.3m EVs and 600,000 heat pumps with low-carbon energy by 2030, placing the citizen centre of this transformation."
Photo: ESB Deputy Chief Executive Jerry O'Sullivan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, TD. (Pic: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography)
