Warm weather cut demand for gas in May

/ 27th June 2022 /

Demand for gas fell by 7% overall during May, according to Gas Networks Ireland, due largely to the warm weather.

Domestic demand fell by half, education was down by 58%, and laundry demand fell 22%. These were offset somewhat by increases elsewhere, with air travel demand rising by 38% on the April figure as the holiday season began, leisure and sport up 54%, construction 45% and retail by 40% month-on-month.

Gas generated 53% of Ireland’s electricity in May, up 1% compared to April. Wind energy had one of its strongest Mays on record – generating 33% of all electricity.

Wind peaked at 69% but, given the variable nature of weather-dependent renewable energy, there were also times when the wind supply dropped almost completely and contributed less than 1% of electricity generation.

At times during the month, gas powered nearly 90% of the country’s electricity, peaking at 88% and never dropping below 24%, while coal peaked at 13%, with a low of 2%.

Head of regulatory affairs Brian Mullins said: “Gas has been the primary source for electricity generation in four out of the first five months of 2022.

“We do not envisage any disruption to gas supply in the immediate future. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, it is anticipated that restrictions on the importation of Russian gas to the EU will not significantly affect supply to Ireland.

“Ireland’s gas requirements will be met by indigenous supply from the Corrib gas field and via the interconnection with the UK, which is largely sourced from UK indigenous sources and Norway.”

He added that GNI is also working on preparing the gas network for the transition to renewable energy to help Ireland meet its climate action targets.

Gas Networks Ireland representatives are working with 30 other energy transmission operators to plan for a new European Hydrogen Backbone network.

The network will largely be based on repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure, says GNI. It is envisaged that by 2040, for example, Ireland could be connected to the new network via a repurposed subsea interconnector pipeline to the future UK hydrogen network in Scotland.

The development of hydrogen networks is an example of how greater integration between Ireland’s gas and electricity networks can support a low carbon economy, GNI believes.