- Investment in key national infrastructure required to improve resilience, ensure sufficient gas pressure and capacity for customers in Southern region and to meet winter peak demand
- The upgrade will increase pipeline capacity to the Southern region by approximately 20%, supporting ongoing economic growth along the route
Gas Networks Ireland is to invest €50 million in an essential upgrade project which is required to avoid the risk of potential capacity constraints on its Southern area network and to ensure sufficient supply in the case of extreme weather events.
As trends and forecasts over the next decade point to an increase in peak daily gas demand on the transmission (high-pressure) network, a capacity constraint is forecast to arise in the southern part of the country, affecting Cork in particular as the furthermost point of the network.
With this investment, Gas Networks Ireland is taking steps to reduce this security of supply risk in one of the key transmission pipelines that feeds this part of the country so that more gas can be moved through the pipe. In turn, this will prevent supply constraints in other parts of the national network and importantly, will ensure that the gas system can continue to meet customer demand on what is known as a 1-in-50 year winter day peak.
This improvement project will increase pipeline capacity in the Southern area by approximately 20 per cent and will support economic growth by ensuring that Gas Networks Ireland can continue to connect new flexible gas fired power generation as well as new commercial customers in the region.
The construction works, which will be contained within existing Gas Networks Ireland site locations in Dublin and Limerick, started earlier this month, with the additional capacity due to come on stream next winter.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister of State in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Transport and Cork South Central T.D., Jerry Buttimer said:
“Today’s announcement by Gas Networks Ireland that it is to invest €50m in an essential upgrade of the gas network will have a significant positive impact on counties in the South of the country, and particularly Cork. Gas is the backbone to Ireland’s integrated energy system and is relied upon by many businesses for their operations. I am delighted to see the advancement of an infrastructure project that provides security of supply as well as additional capacity required to support regional development.”
Gas Networks Ireland Chief Executive, David Kelly said:
“This project represents a critical investment in our network and comes at a time when energy supply and security is a significant issue for the Irish economy. Without this investment, we run the risk of future capacity constraints in the Southern area of our network, making this a priority national project. We also recognise that energy security and resilience is a key consideration for businesses operating in Ireland, with capital investment in energy infrastructure supporting ongoing economic growth.”
Gas Networks Ireland Director of Assets & Infrastructure, Brian Sheehan added:
“Part of our remit is to review and monitor demand on the national gas network and to make forecasts about future requirements. This project is being expedited to prevent a situation where energy could potentially be curtailed in the South of the country should we experience an extreme weather event. While counties along the pipeline route will directly benefit, this reinforcement project will also prevent capacity issues and constraints in other parts of the network, thereby benefitting the whole country in the longer term.”
The project has received all necessary approvals and will be delivered in conjunction with Gas Networks Ireland’s construction partner, Murphy.
Gas Networks Ireland is also planning to invest significantly to reduce its overall carbon emissions. Last month it unveiled plans to decarbonise its two gas compressor stations in Scotland through the installation of new Electric Motor Drives (EMDs) at each site. This €200 million investment will see Gas Network Ireland’s overall operational Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reduced by 42 per cent compared with current levels.
