Three days in January have jumped into the top 30 for daily gas demand recorded in the past 12 years as Irish households and returning workplaces turned up their thermostats following the Christmas holidays.

Gas demand last month was up 11% from December and across most commercial sectors, including manufacturing (+21%), power generation (+17%), education (+15%), office (+10%) and pharmaceutical (+10%).

Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) also measures sizeable increases in the retail (+62%) and laundry (+51%) compared to the same time last year when Ireland was in the midst of a third Covid-19 lockdown from Christmas Eve onwards.

Despite the month-on-month surge, demand was actually down in January compared to the same time in 2021, when gas demand reached the highest monthly level in over a decade and the third-highest on record.

Wind provided more than two-thirds of electricity generation (68%) on New Year's Day, but just 33% for the whole month following a pronounced drop-off, with gas providing 45% and coal 14%.

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Wind-generated up to 76% and, when wind supply fell away, as little as 1% of Ireland's electricity in January, with gas peaking at 74% and dropping to a low of 12%, while coal peaked at 25% and fell as low as 6%.

"Although it was a windy start to the year, gas’s share of electricity generation climbed on December’s total, powering 45% of Ireland’s electricity and again highlighting the essential role that gas plays in our energy mix and in complementing intermittent renewable electricity sources," Brian Mullins, head of regulatory affairs at GNI, said.

“January has been a consistently high month for gas demand. In January 2021, we saw it reach the highest monthly level in over a decade and the third-highest level ever.

"Although down 6% this year, there were three days during January 2022 when demand for gas closed amongst the top 30 for daily demand recorded in 12 years."

(Pic: Getty Images)