Nearly half of Limerick homes still rely on high-carbon fuels
ALMOST half (49%) of Limerick households are still reliant on high-carbon fuels for home heating according to Liquid Gas Ireland (LGI).
The liquid gas industry is calling for a mixed technology approach to the decarbonisation of rural homes as census data shows there has been a national increase in homes using oil since 2016.
Ireland’s move away from high-carbon fuels is lagging according to a new report published last week by LGI, examining national trends in home heating energy sources based on CSO Census data from 2011 – 2022.
Key findings from LGI’s analysis of census data include: 46% of all households nationally rely on either oil, peat, or coal.
The total number of households in Limerick using oil for home heating has increased marginally since 2016 by 647 to 33,110 (43%), 1% of Limerick households continue to use peat, while 5% rely on coal.
Commenting on the report findings, LGI policy director Philip Hannon, said: “By adopting a mixed technology approach that embraces lower carbon and renewable fuels, the government can expand more accessible alternatives to the 46% of homes currently using high carbon fuels. This would deliver cleaner air and lower emissions in rural areas in line with our 2050 net-zero targets.”
“Rural communities should be offered the technology choices that meet their unique needs through secure, clean, and efficient lower-carbon fuels. LGI strongly argues that a ‘mixed technology’ approach that supports the use of lower carbon liquid petroleum gas and renewable liquid gas would help achieve this.
“As clean burning fuels with low levels of air and particulate pollutant emissions, lower carbon LPG and renewable BioLPG offer alternative heating options for households that want to switch from high carbon solid fuels.”