Heating and Cooling Demand Maps

Background

Heat mapping refers to the spatial disaggregation of national heat demand into distinct geographic units. In Ireland, the smallest official geographic units are the Census Small Areas, each typically comprising between 50 and 200 dwellings. As of the 2022 Census, there are 18,919 Small Areas across the country, covering approximately 70,265 km².
 
In 2025, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) carried out the National Comprehensive Heating and Cooling Assessment on behalf of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) for submission to the European Commission. The analysis was undertaken by Environmental Resources Management (ERM) on behalf of SEAI.
 
As part of this assessment, heating and cooling demand for each sector was estimated using 2023 data, enabling the development of a national heat demand map. The methodology used to produce this map is described in detail in the National Comprehensive Heating and Cooling Assessment report.

What you will find in this map

Heating Tab

• Estimated Annual Heating Demand Density: Displays heat demand density (kWh/m²/year) across different sectors, including residential, public, commercial, and industry.
• Estimated Annual Absolute Heating Demand: Shows total heat demand (MWh/year) across different sectors, including residential, public, commercial, and industry.
• Waste Heat Potential: Includes sites such as data centres, energy-from-waste plants, industrial installations, power stations, and wastewater treatment facilities, along with associated temperature ranges.

Cooling Tab

• Estimated Annual Cooling Demand Density: Displays cooling demand density (kWh/m²/year) for commercial and industrial sectors.
• Estimated Annual Absolute Cooling Demand: Shows total cooling demand (MWh/year) for commercial and industrial sectors.

Additional information is also provided on the map, including Electoral Division, Local Authority, County, and whether an area is classified as urban or not.