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Ireland has officially ended coal-fired electricity production, becoming the last country in Europe to take this significant step. The final coal power plant, located in County Clare, ceased operations after more than 40 years of service.
“This is the end of coal in Ireland and the beginning of a cleaner energy future.”
According to Hayes, Ireland is following the example of the United Kingdom, which had already phased out coal. Italy plans to close two major coal power plants this year, while in Spain, the remaining facilities will either be decommissioned or converted to gas power plants, according to the environmental organization Beyond Fossil Fuels.
Analysts from Ember note that thanks to the significant expansion of renewable energy, coal’s share in Europe’s energy mix has nearly halved. Until 2013, coal held the largest share in the continent’s energy system.
In Ireland, the shift to new energy sources is largely driven by the rapid growth of wind power, which currently supplies over a third of the country’s electricity needs. However, environmental groups warn that new challenges, such as dependence on gas and the expansion of data centers, could hinder the achievement of climate goals unless investments are made in energy flexibility and storage development.
The Moneypoint station, which became Ireland’s last coal power plant, will remain on standby until 2029, operating on oil in emergency situations. At the same time, it is already adapting to the new conditions of the energy transition – in 2022, Ireland’s first synchronous compensator was launched there. This device helps stabilize inertia and frequency in the power grid, which is crucial for preventing blackouts like the one that occurred in Spain in April 2025.
