Gas demand in Ireland fell by 10 per cent month-on-month and by three per cent year-on-year in September, with lower demand from the electricity generation sector accounting for much of the monthly decline.
While overall gas demand fell, several sectors recorded increases in gas demand as Ireland moved out of the summer period and into the cooler months, when gas demand for heating typically begins to increase.
Month-on-month, gas demand from the education sector rose by 89 per cent, while demand from leisure and sports arenas as well as offices complexes all increased by 23 per cent.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Director of Strategy and Regulation, Edwina Nyhan, said:
“September marks the transition from the summer months into autumn and we typically see gas demand begin to increase across several sectors as the requirement for heating grows. While overall gas demand was down in September, largely due to lower demand from gas-fired electricity generation, we saw increases across a number of sectors as demand began to follow its normal seasonal pattern.”
Electricity generation
The overall fall in gas demand was primarily driven by the electricity generation sector, where gas demand was 16 per cent lower than in August.
Gas-fired generation accounted for 36 per cent of electricity generation during September, down from 44 per cent in August. Wind generation increased to 35 per cent of the electricity mix, up from 18 per cent in August, while solar accounted for five per cent, compared with eight per cent in August.
Gas in transport
Demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) increased by 12 per cent year-on-year since September 2025, continuing to reflect the growing use of CNG as a lower-carbon alternative to diesel for heavy goods vehicles and commercial transport.