The use of renewable energy sources in heating and cooling in the EU reached 26.7% in 2024; Lowest in Ireland (7.9%)

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NanorH

13 comments

  3. Even though we’re the richest and about the easiest country to heat (of the ones that actually have a winter)

    Very annoying

  4. We didn’t have a heating system in the house til recently, just used plug in heaters.

    Choice between a traditional gas boiler, Air to water or air to air.

    Price of air to air was comparable to a traditional installation for us, and we didn’t have to rip up every floor in the house to get it installed.

    A tad expensive to run at the coldest part of winter, but much cheaper spring autumn time I’ve heard.

    Luckily offset a bit by solar panels.

  5. Yep. Dark age mentality. Air pollution is horrific in Irish towns in winter and every imbecile defends it with “but the fire is so cozy”

  6. I think a lot of other eu countries use wood chips (aka bioenergy) way more than us and those count as renewable even though it is not really a clean source of heat and actually really bad air pollution wise, and don’t forget about the [cash for ash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_Heat_Incentive_scandal) scandal in Northern Ireland, I’m guessing that scandal is part of the reason there has been such a focus on heat pumps here.

    According to Wikipedia ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_heating#Heat_sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_heating#Heat_sources)), for Sweden:

    “In 2015, about 60% of Sweden’s houses (private and commercial) were heated by district heating”

    “In 2024, **46% of the heat generated in Swedish district heating systems was produced with** **renewable bioenergy sources**, as well as 22% in waste-to-energy plants, 7% was provided by heat pumps”

  7. Observe that the top countries are freezing cold places where heat pumps are the norm. Bored of hearing explanations for why there circumstances for why Ireland is uniquely unsuited to heat pumps. 

    Would love to see this data split by fossil fuel consumption at a grid vs household level. Would help indicate which countries have a grid problem vs a home heating electrification problem. 

  9. Only person living on my road it seems who have fully decarbonised my heating (electric wifi rads + electric water heater with SSE who are 100% renewable), everyone else is burning something and the air quality is awful when cold. Builder kept trying to get me to keep my fireplace, install a stove, use gas etc..

    Mad that we’ve had the Greens in government twice since 2007 yet are the worst in Europe for this, despite being one of the richest countries.

  10. No solar parks and no wind turbines guys are winning, we are losing on energy produced on the island without burning fuel.

  11. There’s a considerable amount of scaremongering about heat pumps in Ireland. It seems everyone over 50 I’ve ever met, even people who claim to be pro-climate action, is convinced that they’re a scam and that they cost a fortune to run.

    I’m replacing an old oil burner with one and my parents and older relatives are practically begging me to put a new oil burner in instead.

  12. My geothermal heat pump is 25 years old and looking like it’s on its last legs. i spoke to my installer about the options for a new heat pump, installed.

    “We’re looking at €11-14k!”

    Even after the grant?

    “There is no grant for a replacements.”

    What do people in my situation do?

    “Most people are going back to oil burners.”

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