Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit (EPSSU) FAQ
What is the remit of the Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit (EPSSU)?
SEAI has a lead role in developing and maintaining comprehensive national and sectoral statistics for energy production, transformation and end use. This data is a vital input to meeting international reporting obligations, for advising policy makers and informing investment decisions. Based in Cork, EPSSU is SEAI’s specialist statistics team. Its core functions are to:
- Collect, process and publish energy statistics to support policy analysis and development in line with national needs and international obligations
- Conduct statistical and economic analyses of energy services sectors and sustainable energy options
- Contribute to the development and promulgation of appropriate sustainability indicators
Detailed complete timely and reliable statistics are essential to monitor the energy situation at a country level as well as at an international level. Energy statistics on supply, trade, stocks, transformation and demand are indeed the basis for any sound energy policy decision.
A profound knowledge of energy supply and demand including energy dependency, security and efficiency as well as environmental concerns requires detailed and reliable data.
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Surveys
EPSSU conducts the following Surveys:
- Monthly surveys
- Under the Energy Statistics Regulation we collect data on a monthly basis on:
- Gas supply (t-1)
- Electricity supply (t-1)
- Electricity Generation fuel inputs (t-3)
- Solid Fuel supply (t-3)
- Quarterly surveys
- Fuel cost comparison (scheduled prices for the first day of the quarter), published on SEAI website here.
- Energy Prices and Taxes survey conducted for the IEA
- Bi-annual Surveys
- Price Directive – Electricity and Gas prices for domestic and industrial consumer prices under European Council Directive 90/377/EEC
- Annual Surveys
- CHP survey – survey of sites, installers and operators; CHP data is included annually in the Energy In Ireland report and the most recent CHP update report for 2008
- Renewables Survey – Imports, production, exports, total supply, total demand by sector; renewable data is included annually in the Energy Balance, Energy In Ireland report and the most recent Renewable update report
- Business Energy Use Survey - This survey was introduced in March 2010 as a joint venture with the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This survey enables bottom up calculation of demand in the industry and services sectors. Note the CSO are responsible for conducting this survey which is a sample survey using their Business Register.
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Compliance with Ireland’s reporting Responsibility
EPSSU ensure compliance with the following European Commission Regulation and Decisions. EPSSU calculate progress towards Irish Government targets and is also responsible for completing the following international questionnaires:
| IEA/Eurostat Coal |
| IEA/Eurostat Gas |
| IEA/Eurostat Electricity & Heat |
| IEA/Eurostat Renewables |
| IEA/Eurostat Mini Q - Coal |
| IEA/Eurostat Mini Q - Gas |
| IEA/Eurostat Mini Q - Electricity & Heat |
| IEA/Eurostat Mini Q – Renewables |
| Eurostat CHP Statistics |
| IEA/Eurostat Energy Balances |
| IEA Energy Prices and Taxes |
| Eurostat Monthly Consumption Questionnaire – Solid Fuel |
| Eurostat Monthly Consumption Questionnaire - Electricity |
| Eurostat Monthly Short Electricity Questionnaire |
| Eurostat Monthly Short Gas Questionnaire |
| Competition Questionnaire - Gas |
| Competition Questionnaire - Electricity |
| Eurostat - Energy Efficiency Indicators |
| Statistical Questionnaire (SLT/CERT) Annual Review of Energy Policies |
| Miscellaneous Questionnaires |
| Ad Hoc Queries |
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Energy Balance
The balance is created from EPSSU survey data, with some modelling and estimated data.
The provisional balance is published on the 1st of April annually. The balance for year t-1 is finalised on year t.
The most up to date energy balance and the historical balance series are available here.
Specific queries on the energy balance can usually be answered through a search on the databank.
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Representation
- EPSSU represent Ireland on the following committees:
- EUROSTAT Energy Statistics Working Group
- EUROSTAT Energy Efficiency Indicators Working Group
- EUROSTAT – Energy Efficiency Task Force (ESD)
- IEA Energy Statistics Working Group
- United Nations Oslo City Group – Energy Statistics Development
- EUROSTAT CHP Statistics Working Group
- EU ODYSSEE / MURE Project
- DGTREN Energy Economic Analysts Working Group
- IEA Energy Systems Modelling Executive Committee
EPSSU also part-take in the following national committees
- Energy Statistics Coordinating Group (CSO/SEI)
- National Inventory System (Memoranda of Understanding with EPA)
- Technical Analysis Steering Group
- Transport Statistics working group
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Key statistics
- Progress towards energy targets
- Penetration of Renewables
- Energy Efficiency Improvements & Savings
- Energy related CO2 emissions
- Sectoral energy consumption
- Fossil fuel dependence
- Imported energy dependence
- Efficiency of energy supply
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Publication List
Other publications:
Examples of other outputs:
- National report on Energy Efficiency Indicators for the SAVE Odyssee project (since 1994)
- Report to Eurostat on Energy Data Harmonisation for CO2 Emissions project
- Presented on Irelands energy statistics to:
- European Environmental Agency Workshop
- UNFCCC In-country inventory review (various years)
- In-depth review of Third National Communication of Ireland
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in China
- United Nations Oslo City Group – Energy statistics development
- IEA – various working groups
- EU Odyssee Network
- EU DGTREN Energy Economists WG
Please note that EPSSU are no longer responsible for energy forecasting. This is now the function of the SEAI Energy Modelling team. Click here for the modelling group webpage.
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Project Partners:
Oslo City Group – United Nations Energy statistics group
ODYSSEE – EU(27), Norway & Croatia group working on developing energy efficiency indicators
Energy Statistics Coordinating Group (ESCG) – quarterly meeting of SEI and the Central Statistics Office (CSO)
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What is the EPSSU confidentiality Policy?
EPSSU have the same confidentiality policy as the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for Structural Business Statistics. Where data is not already in the public domain, such as through the emissions trading scheme (ETS), EPSSU cannot publish the data if there are less than 3 enterprises in the category or if one enterprise has more than 80% of a market share or two enterprises have more than 90%.
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I have a policy question - can you help?
EPSSU provide ex-post and ex-ante evidence based analysis for policy decisions. For policy documents and strategy document please contact the relevant government department. Summaries of existing policies are contained in the relevant EPSSU publications.
Do you have statistics for regions/counties/cities in Ireland?
No. EPSSU only produce national energy statistics.
Here is a link to the remit of EPSSU.
Here is a link to SEAI programme statistics.
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Where can I get statistics on SEAI run grant schemes?
SEAI scheme contact information
The energy statistics office is responsible for national energy statistics. We do not have metadata on individual SEAI grant schemes. Please contact the scheme administration directly.
Link to Greener Homes Scheme Statistics
Link to Home Energy Savings Scheme Statistics
Link to Building Energy Rating Statistics
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Do you also have energy forecasting information?
The SEAI Energy Modelling team established in 2009 specifically to meet this need, provides high-quality analysis and policy advice on a range of energy-climate issues at the national and European level. Click here for the modelling group webpage.
Link to the remit of EPSSU
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