NESC Report - Accelerating the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System

The Government welcomes the publication of NESC’s report Accelerating the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System. This new report from the National Economic and Social Council is the fourth in a series on the topic of energy policy to be published in 2025.

The report calls for a Cross Government Energy Framework to address the transition in electricity, heat and transport. The goal for the Framework is a coherent and sustainable energy system that supports social objectives while also respecting planetary boundaries. It should also be consistent with existing plans, including the Climate Action Plan.

The report also highlights that spatial planning and prioritisation of grid connections for energy demand and supply need more development as levers for achieving a sustainable energy system. It finds that the resilience of households, communities and SMEs needs more focus. Achieving resilience is a greater concern for households following Storm Éowyn and could be a motivation for change.

The NESC report provides 5 recommendations to Government:

• Create a Cross Government Energy Framework to support coherence in the transition
• Be more ambitious with plans for Green Energy Industrial Parks to design broader benefits including for the local community
• Initiate a study on the potential of energy demand management across different sectors to assist in meeting energy transition goals
• Undertake a broader effort on energy literacy and public engagement in the energy transition
• Give more focus to the energy resilience of households, businesses and communities and their capacity to cope with power outages, particularly those in isolated areas.

NESC's inquiry included an extensive literature review, policy analysis, data analysis and participative workshops and consultations with over 50 stakeholders. The report and further details can be found at www.nesc.ie.