“This is the end of coal in Ireland and the start of a cleaner energy future.”
Paddy Hayes, CEO of Ireland’s state utility, ESB
Ireland has always been known for its stunning green landscapes, but the Emerald Isle is now even greener. That’s because it just closed it’s last remaining coal-fired power station, the Moneypoint Plant in County Clare. The site of the retired coal plant is already home to a wind farm, and with billions of euros of investments coming in, will become a clean energy hub.
The country made a commitment to cut their CO2 emissions by 51% by the year 2030, and to be carbon-neutral by 2050. In an effort to get there, they have been slowly moving away from the dirtiest fossil fuel, and now that transition is complete. Picking up most of the slack is wind energy, which has taken off in Ireland over the past several years; wind now makes up 37% of the nation’s energy mix. Ireland has work to do to meet it’s climate goals, and still relies heavily on natural gas, but this is a leap in the right direction.
An international trend
Transitioning away from coal is an international trend, and for good reason. Just a few downsides of coal include: it is more expensive than modern energy options, creates the highest CO2 emissions, and is harmful to the the health of both workers and the public.
Ireland is in good company among European countries. To date, 15 have broken up with coal, and 10 more are getting close to achieving that goal. Italy and Spain are both wrapping up their final ties to coal this year. This is a big shift from 12 years ago, when coal made up the biggest share of Europe’s power mix. Kudos to these countries for this progress.
Where does the U.S. stand?
Does this make you wonder where we stand with coal plants in the U.S.? As of last year, we still had 204 plants in operation, providing about 15% of our electricity. More are closing each year, and that number has been accelerating. We have work to do, but by next year we are on track to be down 50% from peak capacity, which was in 2011. Of course, we should help former coal communities adjust to closings, but it turns out these plants are actually ideal renewable energy sites.
The end of coal can’t come fast enough, and I look forward to the time when the U.S. announces the final plant has closed. In the meantime, let’s toast Ireland for their accomplishments as they green-up their country. Sláinte!
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