Background
Heat Works has come about through the commitment and dedication of South Dublin County Council to champion district heating and lead by example in reducing emissions from Ireland’s heating sector.
According to a recent study by the Dublin energy agency Codema, heat accounts for 46% of our capital’s energy-related emissions.
In addition, according to latest EU figures (2020), Ireland is bottom of the table in the EU for using renewable energy sources for heating and cooling, at a mere 6.3%. In comparison, countries like Sweden, who are top of the table at 66%, have high shares of renewable heat delivered through large district heating networks.
Local authorities in Ireland – through the Programme for Government and reiterated in the new National Climate Action Plan 2021 – also have ambitious new targets to meet by 2030. These are:
- To improve energy efficiency by 50%
- To reduce emissions by 51%
- 50% of thermal demand in buildings
must be met by renewable sources
South Dublin County Council is committed to achieving these targets and to pioneer district heating as a solution to making our buildings more energy efficient, reducing emissions and decarbonising our heating sector.
