- According to the Irish Independent, electricity usage hit record levels today as the country turned up the heat to combat sub-zero temperatures. The previous record from last November was broken at 4:45 PM when power demand reached 5,777 megawatts (MW). It continued to rise, peaking at 6,024 MW at 5:47 PM, surpassing the 6,000 MW forecast by Eirgrid. Eirgrid assured that despite the high demand, there was no risk of power shortages or outages.? https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/electricity-use-hits-record-high-as-country-turns-up-the-heat-to-beat-the-freeze/a606053701.html?
- As reported by the Irish Times, the company managing Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate in Co Cork saw a 10% increase in profits, reaching $128.4 million (€124.5 million) in 2023. However, Irving Oil Whitegate Holdings Ltd noted a 3.5% drop in revenues, decreasing from $3.397 billion to $3.275 billion. In 2023, the group experienced a 27% decline in pretax profits, totalling $153 million. Despite this, post-tax profits rose due to a significant reduction in the corporation tax charge, which fell to $24.77 million in 2023 from $92.78 million in 2022.? https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/01/08/profits-at-whitegate-refinery-increase-by-10/?
- Outlined in IrelandLive, Ireland South MEP and Carlow native Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has criticised the EU Commission’s decision to stop local authorities from providing grants to pensioners for replacing broken oil and gas heating systems, calling it “cruel and petty.” She has urged the European Commission to reconsider these new laws, which took effect in Ireland on January 1st. Previously, local authorities could assist pensioners in replacing their heating systems under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant.?https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/carlow-live/1697935/carlow-mep-has-labelled-moves-by-eu-commission-towards-pensioners-as-cruel-and-petty.html?
- The Irish Times reports on the innovative renewable energy projects showcased at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this week. It highlights the works of several students, including Elijah Preston, a 14-year-old student from Dublin, who designed a solar-powered car prototype using 3D printing technology. His project aims to help electric vehicle drivers overcome range anxiety by integrating solar panels as a supplementary power source.?https://www.irishtimes.com/science/2025/01/08/young-scientist-exhibition-students-deploy-innovative-skills-at-frontier-of-renewable-energy/?
- Car sales in Ireland declined by 1% in 2024 compared to 2023, with electric vehicle sales dropping nearly 24% to 17,459 registrations. This decline occurred despite the government’s target of one million EVs by 2030. Neil Briscoe from The Irish Times attributes the drop to reduced government incentives from €5,000 to €3,500 in July 2023, along with issues like the charging network and high EV prices. While global EV sales increased, Ireland’s response to improved EV availability in 2025 will be crucial. Concerns about Chinese EV manufacturers and the need for better home charging infrastructure were also noted.?https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/inside-business/could-a-glut-of-affordable-evs-tempt-irish-motorists-to-make-the-switch/?
- In a report by Longfordlive,? Corrib Oil has introduced 24-hour fuel pumps in Longford Town, located in the Flancare Business Park. This move ensures that drivers can refuel at any hour, catering to night-shift workers, long-haul drivers, and late-night travellers.?The self-service pumps are designed for ease of use and secure transactions, allowing customers to refuel quickly and efficiently at any time.?https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/sponsored-content/1696730/24-hour-fuel-pumps-now-available-in-longford-town-with-corrib-oil.html?
- The Irish Independent reports that So Energy, owned by the ESB, cut its operating losses to ￡7.4 million (€8.9 million) in 2023, down from ￡78.6 million previously. The outlook for the UK unit has “much improved.” The total loss for 2023 was ￡25.9 million, compared to ￡55 million before. The company also reported a gross profit of ￡75.7 million, a significant improvement from a gross loss of ￡28.7 million. The ESB merged its UK retail business, ESB Energy, with So Energy in 2021.?https://www.independent.ie/business/so-energy-esbs-british-unit-slashes-its-operating-loss-as-firm-turns-corner/a2067441634.html?
- As reported in The Guardian, Europe bought a record 17.8 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in 2024, despite EU efforts to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Jan-Eric F?hnrich from Rystad Energy noted that LNG flows were at “record levels.” While Europe has cut piped gas imports from Russia since the Ukraine war began, it has increasingly turned to LNG shipments, making Russia Europe’s second-largest LNG supplier after the US.?https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/09/european-imports-of-liquefied-natural-gas-from-russia-at-record-levels?
- Reuters reports that Poland’s oil refiner Orlen plans to invest 350-380 billion zlotys ($84.3-91.5 billion) by 2035, exceeding the 320 billion zlotys planned in 2022.?Following the announcement, Orlen’s shares fell 0.1% as of 10:17 GMT. The new strategy includes scaling back the Olefins petrochemical project. Orlen aims to meet 100% of Poland’s natural gas demand and achieve 4.3 GW of gas-fired power generation and 1.4 GW of energy storage capacity.?https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/polands-orlen-plans-invest-380-billion-zlotys-by-2035-2025-01-09/?
- According to Euronews, Russian officials warned of severe environmental damage after tons of fuel oil spilled from two tankers in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. Over 10,000 volunteers are rescuing wildlife and cleaning up mazut, a heavy oil product.?Authorities in Russia’s Krasnodar region declared an emergency as the oil continued to wash up on the coastline. The spill came from one tanker that ran aground and another damaged in mid-December. ?https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/01/06/an-ecological-disaster-russia-deals-with-aftermath-of-massive-fuel-oil-spill?
