Project overview
Gas Networks Ireland is responsible for building, managing and maintaining an extensive network of gas infrastructure across the Republic of Ireland. This includes the provision of new connections for customers who have been awarded ‘capacity’ contracts to supply electricity to the national grid.
In 2026, Gas Networks Ireland completed the connection for a new Power Generation customer to the national gas network at Castlelost Power Station in Co. Westmeath. This involved the installation of a 5.6km transmission cross-country pipeline and the construction of an Above Ground Installation (AGI).
A live ‘hot-tap’ was also required, which involved connecting the new pipeline to the existing network all while gas continued to flow uninterrupted to customers in the West of Ireland.
Gas forms a key part of Ireland’s current energy mix and is the backbone to the national electricity grid when it comes to ensuring continuity of power. This customer’s ‘peaking’ power plant will help meet peak demands for the uninterrupted supply of power to Irish households and businesses. It will also support the move towards renewable power, as these plants can flex up or down depending on the amount of power available from renewable sources at any given time.
This project forms part of Gas Networks Ireland’s strategic infrastructure plan, helping to ensure we are meeting the country’s growing energy needs, while also supporting the transition to renewable power.
Key Features of the project include:
- 5.6km of heavy wall pipeline installed underground
- Pipeline crossings under 4 roads and across 3 bodies of water
- Live ‘hot-tap’ to connect the new pipeline to the existing pipeline
- New AGI with pressure reduction, metering and filtering
- Archaeology find as part of pre-site investigations.
Managed and supervised by Gas Networks Ireland, Fingleton White were the lead designers on this project, with Murphy completing the construction works and National Gas engaged as specialist subcontractors for the hot-tap works.
Archaeological discovery
Pre-construction site investigations for the Gas to Castlelost power generation project led to the discovery of a medieval site at Kilbrennan, Co. Westmeath, believed to date from between 400AD and 1400AD.
The discoveries include postholes, pits and a circular enclosure associated with a medieval field system. Artefacts recovered from the site include stone-lined cereal drying kilns as well as pottery, flint and clay tobacco pipes.
The pre-construction investigations were carried out by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACSU) under the direction of Dr Rose Cleary, as part of Gas Networks Ireland’s code of practice for archaeology on all major pipeline works.
An Environmental Impact Assessment Report was required for the pipeline project, and the route was subject to surveys under license from the National Monument Services and supervision by the project archaeologist, Dr Cleary.
The geophysical survey took place in April 2024, and on-site works involving 56 test trenches were completed by November 2024, prior to the commencement of pipelaying. This, together with monitoring of the construction works was completed by ACSU, alongside the construction crew, and ensured that archaeological features were protected during the project.
The majority of the site was preserved ‘in situ’ while some features will be preserved ‘by record’, meaning full archaeological excavation by hand, samples taken and finds retrieved, registered and removed to an off-site location for preservation.
Post-excavation analysis including radiocarbon dating of charcoal and seeds and preliminary reports have been completed, with final reports due to be submitted before the end of 2025.
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Environment and planning
This project was granted a Section 39A Consent (“Consent”) from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) on 18 July, 2024.
The construction phase is undertaken in accordance with the conditions of this Consent, including a detailed construction environmental management plan and monitoring by an ecological clerk of works.
Upon completion, the land over which the underground pipeline is constructed will be returned to its former state in agreement with landowners.
An Environmental Impact Assessment Report and an Appropriate Assessment Screening Report were submitted as part of the Section 39A application. The Consent documents including all environmental reports are available to view at: https://www.cru.ie
In the community
Over the summer (2024) Gas Networks Ireland employees partnered with the Local Tidy Towns committee in Rochfortbridge to complete a litter pick and also identified 15 additional locations to be included in Rochfortbridge's updated wheelchair accessibility map.
Gas Networks Ireland was also appointed as one of twenty new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Champions in Ireland in 2023. These initiatives, where community support activities occur alongside operational and pipeline work, is an example of the company's commitment to sustainable development, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
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