Low carbon pathways for light goods vehicles in Ireland

Abstract

Transport is the most significant energy consuming sector in Ireland, accounting for 40% of final energy demand in 2013, with private cars and road freight contributing 51% and 25% to transport energy demand respectively. Despite a large literature body analysing private car energy use, there has been very little published analysis on freight transport, which itself has largely been limited to one aspect of freight transport, namely heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). This paper focuses on the energy and related CO2 emissions associated with light goods vehicles (LGVs) in Ireland, which contributes to addressing the knowledge gap in freight transport energy use. Low carbon pathways for LGV transport in Ireland, which align with an 80% CO2 emissions reduction by 2050 (relative to 1990), were developed using scenario analysis and a multi-model approach, which included i) the Irish TIMES energy systems model – a least cost optimisation model of the Irish energy system - and ii) an LGV stock model for Ireland – a sectoral simulation model of LGVs in Ireland. The introduction of energy efficiency measures and indigenous gaseous biofuels were found to be key elements in a technically feasible roadmap, which can meet the required CO2 emissions reduction target.