Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Energy - Ambition and Challenges: Discussion

Mr. Jim Dollard:

I think it is real. ESB has said net zero by 2040. Net zero is net zero - zero carbon emissions. That can be delivered. Within our strategy, we are setting out a roadmap that takes us from today all the way to 2040. The closure of the coal plant at Moneypoint in 2025 is a key step, but there are other steps in how we reduce our dependence on gas in the ecosystem. Ultimately, large-scale renewables, vast quantities of renewables paired with green hydrogen will deliver the solution. Ireland has the resources; it is about accelerating the policies and structures. We have to accelerate the timetable. It can be done. It is really about knowing that there is a need for many projects. Not all projects will make it. The number of projects that fail through various steps is significant. The volume of projects we need to push through the system is significant. The Chairman asked if it could be done. The answer is "Yes". From an energy-security point of view, it should be done.

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