Overall gas demand rises significantly in October as cooler, wetter weather drives higher household and sectoral use

• Overall gas demand up 19% month-on-month; down 3% year-on-year
• Residential gas demand more than doubles since September reflecting seasonal norms
• Gas Networks Ireland’s Winter Outlook published confirming no disruption to gas supply is expected this winter

Gas Networks Ireland’s latest gas demand statement shows that overall gas demand increased by 19 per cent in October compared with September, as cooler, wetter weather conditions and the arrival of the first named storm of the winter season Storm Amy, led to higher energy use across homes, offices and key commercial sectors. Although temperatures were relatively mild overall, this October was the coolest since 2020 and this contributed to increased heating needs. 

Strong month-on-month rises across multiple sectors 

Residential gas demand experienced the most significant increase, with demand more than doubling (+103 per cent) compared with September. Several commercial and public service sectors also recorded substantial month-on-month increases in gas demand including education campuses² (+70 per cent), office complexes³ (+55 per cent), leisure and sports arenas (+49 per cent ); hospitals (+30 per cent), retail (+21 per cent) and in gas used for electricity generation (+13 per cent). 

Electricity generation 

Gas generated 39 per cent of Ireland’s electricity in October, up from 37 per cent in September but slightly below the 42 per cent recorded in October last year.  Wind energy generated 36 per cent of electricity, which was similar to September (34 per cent) and October 2024 (35 per cent), but wind output was highly variable during the month. Solar contributed 2 per cent of electricity generation, down from 4 per cent in September. 

Despite strong renewable contributions overall, both wind and solar output fell away almost completely at times, further highlighting the ongoing need for gas to provide flexibility and to ensure a secure energy supply during periods of low renewable generation. 

Commenting on the latest gas demand data, Edwina Nyhan, Gas Networks Ireland’s Director of Strategy and Regulation, said:   

“October marks the point in the year when energy use can shift very quickly, and this month’s figures reflect that. As temperatures dipped and Storm Amy brought wet and windy weather, households and key sectors turned their heating back on, leading to a strong rise in gas demand. Gas also remained an important back-up for the electricity system, stepping in whenever renewable generation fell away.” 

Winter Outlook 2025/26 

Gas Networks Ireland has also published its Winter Outlook 2025/26⁴, providing projections for gas demand and supply from October 2025 to March 2026. 

The Outlook confirms that Ireland has sufficient gas supply sources and adequate network capacity to meet anticipated demand under a range of scenarios—including a “1-in-50 winter peak day,” which is an extremely cold day that typically occurs only once every fifty years. 

The report notes Ireland’s continued reliance on imported gas from Britain, with almost 86 per cent of the State’s gas requirements expected to be met via subsea interconnector pipelines. 

Ms Nyhan added: 

“With winter now underway, our Winter Outlook shows that Ireland has the supply sources and network capacity needed to meet demand, including on very cold, calm days when demand is greatest. Gas will continue to provide the flexibility and reliability required to keep homes warm and the lights on over the months ahead.” 

Overall gas demand in the Republic of Ireland is forecast to increase by 4.5 per cent over the winter compared with last winter. This rise is driven by expected increases in demand from power generation (+6.1 per cent) and industrial and commercial users (+4.4 per cent). 

Electricity demand is also forecast to rise. Although increased imports are expected due to the full inclusion of the new Greenlink interconnector between Ireland and Wales which went live at the end of January, and anticipated higher renewable output, gas-fired power generation is expected to grow by nearly 6 per cent to support the electricity system during periods of high demand and low renewable availability. 

Last winter (2024/25), 17 per cent of Ireland’s gas demand was met by indigenous supply, with the remaining 83 per cent supplied from Britain. Total gas demand last winter was up 3.2 per cent, driven mainly by power generation and industrial and commercial sectors. Gas demand for transport grew by 97.6 per cent year-on-year. 

_{1 Climate Statement for October 2025 - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service} 

_{2 ‘Education’ refers to large educational campuses} 

_{3 ‘Offices’ refers to large office campuses} 

_{4  Gas Networks Ireland's winter outlook sets out the demand and supply outlook for winter 2025/26 (October 2025 to March 2026) for both the Republic of Ireland (ROI) gas demand and the Gas Networks Ireland system demand. The Gas Networks Ireland system demand refers to the combined demands for ROI, Northern Ireland (NI) and Isle of Man (IOM) which are all transported through Gas Networks Ireland's system. Gas Networks Ireland's Winter Outlook 2025/26 can be found here: Gas Network Ireland Winter Outlook 2025 Report}