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The recent "code red for humanity" warning from the world's leading climate scientists could not have been clearer. To avert a climate catastrophe that threatens the lives of billions of people, we must phase out fossil fuels before the end of this decade. But if the Irish Government does not act fast, next year could see the development of gas import infrastructure that will lock Ireland into fossil fuels for several decades.
A new chapter has opened in the Shannon LNG saga when US company New Fortress Energy stated its intention to apply for planning permission for the "Shannon Technology and Energy Park" in Tarbert, Co Kerry. Situated at the intersection of climate change, energy and social justice concerns, the latest iteration of this controversial project is set to be the first big test of the Government's accelerated climate ambition.
The proposed Shannon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal has been a focus for almost 20 years for Irish and international environmental campaigners concerned about LNG’s devastating climate and safety impacts, allied with the fact that the terminal would likely import fracked gas toxic to communities at the other end of the supply chain.
Last summer, stopping Shannon LNG and fracked gas imports was a key Green Party demand in the programme for Government negotiations, with Mark “The Hulk” Ruffalo drafted in to convince party members to vote in favour of coalition. All three Government parties are opposed to LNG terminals; Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael stated prior to negotiations that “it does not make sense to build new large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure such as liquid natural gas import terminals”. While the Government has issued a policy statement against fracked gas imports, campaigners are concerned this statement will not be enough to stop An Bord Pleanála, an independent body, from granting planning permission to Shannon LNG.
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A development of the magnitude of Shannon LNG is incompatible with Ireland’s climate goals. Gas is touted by industry as a “transition fuel”. However, the latest peer-reviewed science is very clear – methane leakage and the additional energy required to process LNG specifically make it 20 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions-intensive than short-distance gas. It in fact has no climate benefit over coal or oil.
‘Lock in’ effect
At a time when we urgently need to reduce fossil fuel usage, LNG terminals would create a “lock in” effect, guaranteeing high levels of gas consumption and obstructing investment in clean energy. Importing LNG would also expose Ireland to significant upstream social and environmental justice harms. The serious health impacts of fracking on local communities are well-documented, but LNG terminals themselves also have human health impacts as they emit ozone, which contributes to severe respiratory problems, and the toxic air pollutant carbon monoxide through the loading and offloading of tankers. New Fortress Energy’s claim that the gas imported via the Shannon Estuary would not be fracked is not credible. The company’s upstream operations in the US all involve fracked gas.
Globally, new gas projects are the source of increasing geopolitical conflicts, tensions and militarisation, with Mozambique and Palestine recent examples. As a member of the UN Security Council and current co-chair of the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security, Ireland has a crucial role to play in promoting environmental and social justice in the energy supply chain. These embodied energy injustices in the LNG and fossil fuel supply chain, along with the climate impacts of LNG, are reflected in a massive and growing global campaign against LNG and other new major fossil fuel infrastructure.
In its May 2021 policy statement on fracked gas imports, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications said that “it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with” until the ongoing independent review of energy security is concluded, likely to be some time in 2022. This review is the crux of climate campaigners’ anxiety around Shannon LNG.
Data centres
There is increasing concern about Ireland’s energy security due to rapid data centre expansion. Powering data centres requires a huge amount of electricity and continued expansion will put unprecedented strain on the electricity grid. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities recently warned of a risk of rolling electricity blackouts due to data centres’ demands on the grid – a risk disproportionately borne by the most vulnerable groups in society. Although renewable electricity generation is increasing rapidly in Ireland, if data centre expansion continues at pace, additional gas generation will be required to power them. In some cases, a data centre is proposed as justification for building new fossil fuel infrastructure. Indeed the Shannon LNG plan includes eight data centres, along with the LNG terminal and a gas-fired power plant.
Energy security in Ireland does not require huge fossil fuel import terminals. Multiple studies, including those by the European Body of Gas Network Operators, Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid, have found existing gas infrastructure to be capable of meeting future demand, even in the event of extreme supply disruption. As the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has noted, energy security can instead be strengthened by increasing energy efficiency and indigenous renewable energy supply. There are policy solutions too in relation to data centres. In Amsterdam, a year-long moratorium was placed on data centre development while a new policy was formed which limits the electricity each data centre can draw from the grid.
Fundamentally, energy security risks are far outweighed by the risks of climate disruption. Fast and reliable elimination of greenhouse gas emissions is critical to managing climate risks, and the fastest and most reliable way of eliminating such emissions is by not burning fossil fuels.
The window of time in which we can prevent catastrophic climate change is rapidly closing and Ireland needs to immediately reduce dependence on the fossil fuels driving the crisis. The most logical step the Government can take is to turn its climate ambition into climate action and ban the development of LNG projects in Ireland.
Dr Aideen O'Dochartaigh is assistant professor of accounting at DCU business school and a member of fossil free campaign group Not Here Not Anywhere