Industry

The Industrial and Commercial sector (I&C) is of vital economic importance for Ireland. The national gas network can contribute to reducing emissions by working in partnership with industry.

The challenge

Many I&C customers with thermal heat requirements are actively looking to natural gas and renewable gas as a means of decarbonising. A clear roadmap for the availability of renewable gas is a key requirement for many of these companies in choosing to locate or expand in Ireland.

A pathway to decarbonise industry by 2050

75%

Industry accounts for 75% of Ireland’s total emissions. Equal to 5.5Mt CO₂
40+

Irish companies, including large manufacturing and agri-food companies, have signed a carbon pledge to significantly reduce their carbon footprint by 2030

Why gas?

Why gas and the gas network provide a smart solution to decarbonising industry in Ireland.

High temperature

Many industrial processes such as manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage processing rely on gas to provide high temperature heat required.

Immediate and increasing emissions savings

As natural gas produces 40% less CO₂ than coal and 20% less CO₂ than oil, converting I&C companies to natural gas would deliver significant and immediate emissions reductions. Furthermore, as the volume of biomethane on the network increases, those connected to the gas network will increasingly reduce without changing a thing.

Corporate social responsibility

Increasing numbers of multi-national and domestic I&C companies are seeking to use renewable gas to reduce their carbon footprint.

Onsite energy generation

Generating electricity onsite using gas is an option that is attractive to those with large electricity demands, such as data centres.

Foreign Direct Investment

The availability of renewable gas is a key consideration for international I&C customers when contemplating investing in Ireland.

Our vision to decarbonise industry

Converting industry to gas

Convert I&C companies near the gas network from oil and coal to natural gas. As natural gas produces 40% less CO₂ than coal and 20% less CO₂ than oil, converting I&C companies to natural gas would deliver significant and immediate emissions reductions.

Decarbonise through the gas network

As the volume of biomethane on the network increases, those connected to the gas network will increasingly reduce without changing a thing.

What we are doing

Promoting Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

CHP offers I&C companies the opportunity to significantly reduce their energy use and consequently their carbon emissions. Conventional power generation creates a lot of heat which is normally wasted, whereas a CHP system creates power from this heat and CHP systems powered by gas can reduce primary energy use by up to 50%.

Supporting Green Gas Certification (GGC)

A reliable method of tracing and verifying renewable gas origin is vital to provide confidence to consumers, particularly I&C companies, that the gas delivered is renewable and can be counted against their emission reduction targets. We have developed a GGC scheme for Ireland in partnership with other Irish and European agencies to support the growth of a renewable gas market in Ireland.