The Irish renewables industry believes the country will miss its 80% green electricity target by 2030.
A KPMG report has found 95% of experts surveyed reckon planning delays and insufficient electricity grid capacity will make the goal impossible.
Insiders also blamed a “lack of joined-up thinking” on policy development for slowing project delivery, according to the ‘Act Now – Accelerating onshore renewable energy in Ireland’ study.
The report calls for a properly resourced planning system, full backing of Eigrid’s latest Shaping Our Electricity Future strategy and a government taskforce on renewables.
Launching the report, Wind Energy Ireland chief executive Noel Cunniffe said: “This report should be a wake-up call to anyone who wants to cut our carbon emissions and end our dependency on imported fossil fuels.
“I believe we can, and must, be a leader in Europe’s energy revolution. We have the natural resources, we have the project pipeline and we have the ambition.
“This report highlights the obstacles to achieving these ambitions. Our planning system is overwhelmed, our grid has reached capacity and our policy lacks that joined-up thinking needed to fulfil our potential. These challenges must be addressed, and fast.
“No one questions the commitment, at every level of government, of those struggling to deliver these policies but they simply do not have anything close to the resources they need.
“Government and industry should be working together to accelerate the delivery of onshore renewables, to design a policy framework, a planning system and supportive grid infrastructure that is fully equipped to deliver our ambitions.”
Partner at KPMG Sustainable Futures James Delahunt added: “There was unanimity across stakeholders that Ireland can and should be a leader in Europe’s energy transition. However, there was also a recognition that many elements of Ireland’s renewables ecosystem are already at capacity.
“A mobilisation of government and industry stakeholders is required if we are to extend this capacity to enable delivery of Ireland’s abundant renewable potential. Collaboration will be key.”