Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In November 2023, the Government approved and published the Energy Security Package, a first-of-its kind strategy that encompasses electricity, oil, and gas. As part of the Package, the 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report concluded that Ireland’s future energy would be secure by moving from a fossil fuel-based energy system to an electricity-led system, maximising our renewable energy potential, flexibility and being integrated into Europe’s energy systems. The report determined that Ireland’s natural gas supplies and infrastructure are adequate to meet our demand projections. However, Ireland does not have adequate resilience in case of a major disruption to our sub-sea gas imports pipelines and does not currently meet minimum EU standards in this area. It is in this context only that a State-led gas facility was recommended in the report, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.

As part of the analysis, the Package included:

A major public consultation exercise with over 450 responses that were reviewed and influenced the final report;

• “Technical Analysis” on security of electricity and gas supply with scenarios and risks that inform the ESP;
• Policy analysis and a work programme on oil security of supply;
• An Independent Review on Security of Electricity Supply (the McCarthy report) with recommendations have been actioned;
• And an energy security response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (“National Energy Security Framework”) with actions that have been integrated into Ireland’s overall energy security response to 2030.

Alongside security of supply and affordability; the principle of sustainability – the mitigation and avoidance of potential environmental harm and climate change impacts – was a key driver in the analysis as part of the Energy Security Package. The Package was developed in line with the objectives outlined in the Climate Action Plan. This strategy will ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade, while enabling a sustainable transition to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050, supporting our growing economy and societal needs for the future.

With regard to gas, the report determines that Ireland’s natural gas supplies and infrastructure are adequate to meet our demand projections, but Ireland does not have adequate resilience in case of a major disruption to our gas imports. As a transitional measure, it was recommended to introduce a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve to address security needs in the medium-term, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.

Preliminary analysis by my Department anticipated that in terms of delivery options, a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve provided through a storage and importation facility, in the form of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit, was the most appropriate approach. A strategic gas emergency reserve was considered to be required to provide resilience to the gas system to mitigate the consequences for society and our economy of a significant gas supply disruption in Ireland.

One of the issues on which further research and information is necessary, relates to the timeline for introducing such a facility and the timelines within which gas demand may fall to reduce the risk.

Gas demand is expected to drop significantly through the course of the decade from 2030 and production of renewable gases are set to increase as well as the introduction of renewable gas compatible storage. This will enable security of supply benefits to be delivered without committing to a long-term dependence on natural gas.

Since the previous analysis, a number of the assumptions which were fed into that analysis have been shown to be inaccurate. These include predictions of the volume and direction of electricity flows through the interconnectors, and the pace of development of electric battery storage capacity.

We know that, in this decade, we are at risk and are exposed. Given the likelihood that delivery of a strategic gas reserve facility may not happen until early in the next decade, analysis is required as to whether the planned dramatic reduction in gas use, particularly in the electricity generation sector, means that an alternative way to meet the energy security risk might be better. For example, further electricity interconnectors with the UK or France, oil-fired backup generation capacity such as at Moneypoint or Tarbert, or what is fast-evolving long term storage capability. My Department has commissioned CEPA to carry out the necessary detailed analysis, which will be presented to my successor and which will enable her or him to make appropriate recommendations to the Government and the Oireachtas.