Ireland plans to cut more than 250 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2050. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has unveiled three roadmaps which pick out wind power, smart grids and electric vehicles to focus its efforts on.

It estimates smart grids will lead to a total reduction in energy-related CO2 emissions in of 250 million tonnes over the next forty years, while electricity generated by wind could create almost €15 billion by 2050 and switching to electric cars for personal users could cut carbon dioxide by four million tonnes a year by then.

Professor J. Owen Lewis, Chief Executive of SEAI said: “The Roadmaps show a great many benefits, including reduced energy imports leading to increased security of supply, increased use of renewables leading to lower CO2 emissions and significant employment and economic opportunities.”