Gas demand increases in March as renewable electricity generation falls

Gas demand increased in March as lower renewable electricity generation saw a 36 per cent increase in usage for gas-fired plants.

Overall, gas demand rose 15 per cent month on month, contributing 41 per cent to electricity supply, compared to 33 per cent for wind power. Coal’s share was also higher rising from 10 per cent in February to 14 per cent in March.

Last month saw gas-powered electricity peak at 77 per cent, with a low of 8 per cent. Coal peaked at 28 per cent, with a low of 4 per cent.

Peak

Wind, meanwhile, hit a peak of 76 per cent for electricity generation in March, but there were times when wind supply dropped completely.

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“Gas again highlighted its critical role in Ireland’s energy mix, meeting a 15% increase in demand from February to March as the availability of wind to generate electricity fell significantly,”

Gas Networks Ireland's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Brian Mullins said.

"Being able to harness wind energy when it is available and back it up with the flexibility and reliability of gas when it's not, provides a secure and complete energy system for the people of Ireland. "

Demand was also up across the food and beverage sector, laundry and retail. This was offset by the decreased demand in the construction, residential, air travel and leisure sectors.

About a quarter of the gas transported through Ireland's gas network came from the Corrib fields, with small volumes of indigenous biomethane entering the network in Cush, Co Kildare, and the remainder imported via the interconnectors with Scotland

Cost

“Using the existing gas network and replacing natural gas with renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, to reduce emissions, ensures Ireland’s energy security, provides flexible and reliable back up to intermittent renewable electricity, while achieving this at the lowest cost and with least disruption,” Mr Mullins said.

"We are pleased to see that over the past two months, both the European Commission via its REPowerEU plan in March and the Irish Government via its National Energy Security Framework in April, have both highlighted the need to diversify gas supplies and speed up the development of a biomethane industry and national hydrogen strategy.

“These announcements align with our vision for a decarbonised gas network that will reduce emissions across every sector of the Irish economy, including those that are traditionally difficult to decarbonise, such as heating, transport, manufacturing, agriculture and power generation.”