Ireland Coal Power: Generation, Share and Trend
Ireland generated 460 GWh of electricity from coal in 2025, 1.5% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 71st largest coal power producer in 2025 of the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Coal supplied 33.1% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through August 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- Ireland generated 460 GWh of electricity from coal in 2025.
- Coal supplied 1.5% of Ireland's electricity in 2025.
- Ireland was the 71st largest coal power producer in 2025 among the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- Ireland's coal generation in 2025 was 31% lower than in 2020, when it was 670 GWh.
- Ireland's coal generation in 2025 was 91% lower than in 2015, when it was 4.87 TWh.
- Ireland's coal generation peaked at 7.06 TWh in 2001.
- Ireland's coal share in 2025 was below the world share of 33.1%.
- Coal power in Ireland emitted 0.44 MtCO2 in 2025, 5% of the power sector's emissions.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Coal generation | 460 GWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of Ireland's electricity | 1.5% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of coal | 33.1% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by coal generation (each country's latest year) | 71 of 85 | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal capacity | 0 GW | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal power emissions | 0.44 MtCO2 | 2025 · Ember |
Coal Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1990 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, GWh
| Year | Coal |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.92 TWh |
| 1991 | 5.85 TWh |
| 1992 | 6.66 TWh |
| 1993 | 6.62 TWh |
| 1994 | 6.68 TWh |
| 1995 | 7.02 TWh |
| 1996 | 6.99 TWh |
| 1997 | 6.79 TWh |
| 1998 | 6.74 TWh |
| 1999 | 5.83 TWh |
| 2000 | 6.82 TWh |
| 2001 | 7.06 TWh |
| 2002 | 6.82 TWh |
| 2003 | 6.20 TWh |
| 2004 | 6.23 TWh |
| 2005 | 6.39 TWh |
| 2006 | 5.88 TWh |
| 2007 | 5.44 TWh |
| 2008 | 5.14 TWh |
| 2009 | 4.00 TWh |
| 2010 | 3.55 TWh |
| 2011 | 3.94 TWh |
| 2012 | 5.02 TWh |
| 2013 | 4.28 TWh |
| 2014 | 3.96 TWh |
| 2015 | 4.87 TWh |
| 2016 | 4.70 TWh |
| 2017 | 3.64 TWh |
| 2018 | 2.15 TWh |
| 2019 | 510 GWh |
| 2020 | 670 GWh |
| 2021 | 2.72 TWh |
| 2022 | 2.37 TWh |
| 2023 | 1.21 TWh |
| 2024 | 630 GWh |
| 2025 | 460 GWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | Ireland | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 41.7% | n/a |
| 1991 | 39.2% | n/a |
| 1992 | 42.3% | n/a |
| 1993 | 41.1% | n/a |
| 1994 | 39.8% | n/a |
| 1995 | 40.0% | n/a |
| 1996 | 37.0% | n/a |
| 1997 | 34.6% | n/a |
| 1998 | 32.3% | n/a |
| 1999 | 26.8% | n/a |
| 2000 | 28.9% | 38.0% |
| 2001 | 28.7% | 38.0% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | 38.3% |
| 2003 | 25.0% | 39.5% |
| 2004 | 24.7% | 39.0% |
| 2005 | 25.0% | 39.5% |
| 2006 | 21.7% | 40.2% |
| 2007 | 19.2% | 40.8% |
| 2008 | 17.2% | 40.2% |
| 2009 | 14.3% | 39.9% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | 39.8% |
| 2011 | 14.5% | 40.6% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | 39.9% |
| 2013 | 16.7% | 40.8% |
| 2014 | 15.3% | 40.5% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | 38.7% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | 37.8% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | 38.0% |
| 2018 | 6.9% | 38.0% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | 36.7% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | 35.4% |
| 2021 | 8.6% | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | 35.6% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | 35.2% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 1.5% | 33.1% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity | Emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 460 GWh | 1.5% | 33.1% | 0 GW | 0.44 MtCO2 |
| 2024 | 630 GWh | 2.0% | 34.2% | 920 MW | 0.61 MtCO2 |
| 2023 | 1.21 TWh | 3.8% | 35.2% | 920 MW | 1.16 MtCO2 |
| 2022 | 2.37 TWh | 7.0% | 35.6% | 920 MW | 2.28 MtCO2 |
| 2021 | 2.72 TWh | 8.6% | 36.0% | 920 MW | 2.62 MtCO2 |
| 2020 | 670 GWh | 2.1% | 35.4% | 920 MW | 0.64 MtCO2 |
| 2019 | 510 GWh | 1.7% | 36.7% | 920 MW | 0.49 MtCO2 |
| 2018 | 2.15 TWh | 6.9% | 38.0% | 920 MW | 2.07 MtCO2 |
| 2017 | 3.64 TWh | 11.8% | 38.0% | 920 MW | 3.50 MtCO2 |
| 2016 | 4.70 TWh | 15.5% | 37.8% | 920 MW | 4.52 MtCO2 |
Full year by year history for Ireland
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.
Coal Generation Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through August 2026Monthly statistics through August 2026, TWh
| Month | Coal |
|---|---|
| 2024-09 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2024-10 | 90.0 GWh |
| 2024-11 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2024-12 | 50.0 GWh |
| 2025-01 | 100 GWh |
| 2025-02 | 60.0 GWh |
| 2025-03 | 60.0 GWh |
| 2025-04 | 120 GWh |
| 2025-05 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2025-06 | 30.0 GWh |
| 2025-07 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2025-08 | 20.0 GWh |
| 2025-09 | 40.0 GWh |
| 2025-10 | 40.0 GWh |
| 2025-11 | 70.0 GWh |
| 2025-12 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2026-01 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2026-02 | 50.0 GWh |
| 2026-03 | 80.0 GWh |
| 2026-04 | 60.0 GWh |
| 2026-05 | 10.0 GWh |
| 2026-06 | 20.0 GWh |
| 2026-07 | 60.0 GWh |
| 2026-08 | 0 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of August 2026. Monthly figures for Ireland can differ slightly from the annual totals.