Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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83. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an exact date for the release of the report on liquified natural gas, commissioned by his predecessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17601/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department engaged CEPA (Cambridge Economic Policy Associates Ltd) to carry out an updated analysis of security of energy supply in Ireland covering the period beyond 2030 and up to 2040. This study builds on CEPA’s technical analysis of the security of supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems up to 2030, published in September 2022, that helped inform the review of Ireland’s energy security review.

In November 2023, the previous Government approved and published the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ report which concludes that Ireland’s future energy will 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. With regard to gas, the report determines that as a transitional measure, we will examine the introduction of a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve to address security needs in the medium-term, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.

Inability to meet peak gas demand during a cold spell would mean curtailing gas demand to balance the system. By 2030, 80% of our electricity is expected to be produced from renewables, meaning our overall gas demand is expected to decline. However, the electrification of the heat and transport sector will mean increased peak day electricity demand. During those periods where variable renewable generation is largely not available, gas back-up is expected to be used, particularly when support from batteries and electricity demand side response is exhausted.

On this basis a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve, in the form of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), has been approved by Government to secure Ireland's energy systems ,as a transitionary measure. A strategic gas emergency reserve will provide resilience to the gas system to mitigate the consequences for society and our economy of a significant gas supply disruption in Ireland.

The additional analysis conducted by Cambridge Economic Policy Associates is currently under review within my Department but I can confirm that the study finds that Ireland will not meet the N-1 infrastructure standard for gas during the 2030s. The reports finds that the addition of an FSRU will allow Ireland to meet this standard.

It is intended to publish the report in the coming weeks.