The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023. This was up 10% on 2022 and was mainly driven by the increased output of the Energy sector (See Table 1A and 2A).
In 2023, Irelands Green Economy represented €5.0 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) and supported 48,400 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, which was up 13% on 2022 (See Table 1B and 1C).
Output from Renewable Energy rose by 7%, from €2.9 billion in 2022 to €3.1 billion in 2023, with a higher proportion of energy being generated from renewable sources in 2023 (See Table 1A). This renewable energy is largely from onshore wind turbines.
Output for investment in energy savings, such as insulation of buildings, grew by 17%, from €1.4 billion in 2022 to €1.7 billion in 2023, with increased government grants for energy saving measures in 2023 (See Table 1A).
In 2023, the Industry sector generated €10.2 billion in Green Economy output, up €0.6 billion on 2022 and accounted for 84% of total Green Economy output. Within this, Construction contributed €3.1 billion (31%) underlining its role in delivering environmentally focused infrastructure projects (See Table 2A).
Output for the Agriculture, forestry and fishing sector rose from €0.3 billion in 2014 to €0.7 billion in 2023. Much of this increase occurred in 2023, and is related to new Agri-environment schemes, that were introduced by government to benefit areas such as climate, environment, and biodiversity (See Table 2A).
In the Services sector, output rose from €0.6 billion in 2014 to €1.2 billion in 2023. The most substantial increases occurred from 2021 to 2023, where energy saving technical services increased, with support by government grants to fund energy saving measures (See Table 2A).
The Green Economy (Environment Goods and Services Sector) activities can be classified by their environmental purpose. Regulation (EU) 691/2011 establishes a common framework for the collection, compilation, transmission and evaluation of European environmental economic accounts. From October 2025 onward CEPA and CREMA classifications have been replaced by classification of environmental purposes (CEP). Details of the CEP classification are included in the Background Notes of this release.
In 2023, there was €12.1 billion in output from environmental activities. Figure 1 below shows the Output from 2014 to 2023. The five main areas of Output from environmental activities in 2023 were:
Table 1A shows how much Output was generated each year 2014 to 2023 by different types of environmental activities such as renewable energy and waste management. Table 1B show the Gross Value Added (GVA) by these activities to the Irish economy over the same period, while Table 1C shows how many people were employed in these activities each year.
Figure 2 shows Green Economy Gross Output by NACE sector from 2014 to 2023. Further detail is shown in table 2A below which shows Green Economy Gross Output by Broad Environment Activity and NACE sector from 2014 to 2023.
Green Economy Gross Value Added (GVA) by Broad Environment Activity and NACE sector from 2014 to 2023 is shown on table 2B below. Table 2C shows Green Economy Employment by Broad Environment Activity and NACE sector from 2014 to 2023.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 February 2026) published Business in Ireland 2023 – Green Economy.
The Green Economy, which refers to the Environment Goods and Services Sector, outlines activities that can be classified by their environmental purpose. This release provides insight on these activities and the business sectors they take place in.
Commenting on the release, Jason Sibley, Statistician in the Environment Division, said: "The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023. This was up 10% on 2022 and was mainly driven by the increased output of the Energy sector (See Table 1A and 2A).
Output from Renewable Energy went up by 7%, from €2.9 billion in 2022 to €3.1 billion in 2023, with a higher proportion of energy being generated from renewable sources in 2023. (See Table 1A). This renewable energy is largely from onshore wind turbines.
Output for investment in energy savings, such as insulation of buildings, rose by 17%, from €1.4 billion in 2022 to €1.7 billion in 2023, with increased government grants for energy saving measures in 2023. (See Table 1A).
In 2023, Irelands Green Economy represented €5.0 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the country and supported 48,400 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, which was up 13% on 2022. (See Table 1B and 1C).
In 2023, the Industry sector generated €10.2 billion in Green Economy output, up €0.6 billion on 2022 and accounted for 84% of total Green Economy output. Within this, Construction contributed €3.1 billion (31%) underlining its role in delivering environmentally focused infrastructure projects. (See Table 2A).
Output for the Agriculture, forestry and fishing sector rose from €0.3 billion in 2014 to €0.7 billion in 2023. Much of this increase occurred in 2023, and is related to new Agri-environment schemes, that were introduced by government to benefit areas such as climate, environment, and biodiversity (See Table 2A).
In the Services sector, output rose from €0.6 billion in 2014 to €1.2 billion in 2023. The most substantial increases occurred from 2021 to 2023, where energy saving technical services increased, with support by government grants to fund energy saving measures (See Table 2A).”