ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 37 I nLdE Du sVt Ar yNNC eE w s SEAI’s Large Industry Energy Network Marks 30 Years with Major Decarbonisation Milestone The announcement was made by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) at the Industry Decarbonisation Conference held at Trinity College Dublin on Thursday, November 7, 2025. The event marked the 30th anniversary of the Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN), a pivotal partnership between the state and the private sector designed to improve energy performance and competitiveness. Tracking Towards 2030 The reported 14.7% reduction is viewed as a significant step toward the national target of a 35% reduction by 2030. The LIEN, which was established in 1995 following a pilot scheme with just ten companies, has grown to become the premier collaborative body for energy management in Ireland. Today, the network comprises over 200 companies, employing more than 140,000 people. Collectively, these members are responsible for an annual energy spend of €2.2 billion, accounting for approximately 17% of Ireland’s total primary energy use. Data released at the conference highlights a clear performance gap between network members and the wider industry. Analysis indicates that LIEN member companies are consistently delivering superior energy efficiency performance and faster emission reductions than their non-member counterparts. Investment and Returns The figures released by the SEAI underscore the scale Ireland’s largest industrial energy users are successfully bridging the gap between economic output and carbon emissions, with new figures showing a 14.7% reduction in emissions since 2018. of engineering and financial investment currently underway in the sector. Since 2022, the SEAI has provided €60 million in government-funded industry grants. This seed funding has successfully leveraged approximately €250 million in private investment toward emissions reduction technologies and retrofits. The return on these investments is becoming increasingly tangible. In the last year alone: LIEN members recorded 386 GWh of verified energy savings. The network avoided 88,000 tonnes of CO2. Members realised €36 million in cost savings through enhanced energy efficiency measures. Despite these reductions, the scale of the challenge remains significant. Last year, LIEN members emitted 4.6 million tonnes of CO2, representing approximately 8% of the national total. Three Decades of Evolution Reflecting on the 30-year journey, the conference highlighted how the LIEN has evolved from a small pilot into a cornerstone of national energy policy. For electrical and energy professionals, the data reinforces the business case for decarbonisation. With verified savings of 386 GWh, the network has demonstrated that robust energy management systems are not just regulatory compliance tools, but vital drivers of operational cost reduction and long-term competitiveness. As the 2030 deadline approaches, the focus for the LIEN and its members will now shift to closing the remaining gap to the 35% target, requiring continued innovation and capital investment in renewable integration and process efficiency.
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