Ireland Energy Security Supply

Ireland is one of the most energy-import dependent countries in the EU with oil making up the largest share of energy imports. In 2021, 100 percent of oil and 71 percent of natural gas was imported.  Consequently, Ireland’s energy system is facing significant challenges as it enters a period of transformational change allied to its transition to a net-zero emissions future.  

The Irish Government is undertaking a review of the energy security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems focused on the period to 2030 that encompasses a commitment to a sustainable transition to net zero emissions by 2050.  This review considers potential risks to the country’s natural gas and electricity supplies and examines a range of measures to mitigate these risks, including the need for additional capacity to import energy, reduce energy use, energy storage, fuel diversification, and renewable gases (such as biomethane and hydrogen).

As part of its review, the Government has launched a public consultation to solicit the opinions of energy sector participants and interested observers to the following series of mitigation options:

•    strategic gas storage
•    strategic floating LNG
•    gas package involving strategic storage and renewable gas (biomethane injection and hydrogen)
•    additional electricity interconnection — a second 700MW interconnector to France 
•    additional pumped storage — 360MW of pumped storage hydroelectricity capacity
•    biomass plant — a 450MW dedicated biomass plant
•    secondary fuel — increased secondary fuel storage beyond the current 5-day storage target
•    hydrogen plant conversion — converting a CCGT (combined cycle gas turbine) to hydrogen
•    electricity package — combining additional capacity of batteries and demand side response

U.S. energy technology suppliers may be interested in reviewing the consultation and its supporting documentation for an informed insight into Ireland’s energy system and the challenges being faced thru 2030 and beyond. As the review will form the basis of Ireland’s energy security policy for the next decade, it should allow the early identification of project opportunities. Submissions can be made, preferably via email energyconsultation@decc.gov.ie to the Wholesale Electricity and Gas Policy Division at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications until October 28, 2022.

For more information on Ireland’s energy sector, please contact Padraig O’Connor at U.S. Commercial Service Ireland via Padraig.O’Connor@trade.gov.