The expert review of energy security commissioned by Government “signals the death knell of Shannon LNG and marks a significant step in ending all fossil fuel infrastructure in Ireland”, according to Friends of the Earth (FoE).
The analysis, carried out by CEPA technical consultants, assesses different measures to support energy security while meeting climate obligations — and forms the basis of a public consultation before the Government makes final policy decisions later this year.
The report, issued on Monday by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, rules out a range of measures, notably a commercially operated or State-owned LNG import terminal on land, such as Shannon LNG, FoE said.
This was because it found it would “likely result in the importation of fracked gas to Ireland” and embedded emissions in LNG can exceed that of natural gas, while there was no guarantee that stored gas volumes would be sufficient to cover a security-of-supply shock.
A commercially operated floating LNG terminal was also ruled out for the same reasons, FoE pointed out. Additional domestic production of natural gas from existing exploration licences, such as from Providence or Corrib, could lock Ireland into a high-gas energy market, it underlined.
Instead, the report shortlists green hydrogen; demand response, electricity interconnection and storage as beneficial security measures, FoE noted, though it also sets out two possible gas infrastructure options which are temporary and limited to prevent gas lock-in: a floating LNG terminal or an onshore State-backed gas storage facility but only operated as a backup measure.
FoE head of policy Jerry MacEvilly said: “This expert report provides a clear signal that Government is starting to finally recognise the real dangers of Ireland’s overdependence on fossil fuels, as well as the risks of locking Ireland into polluting gas if long-term infrastructure is allowed.
“The technical analysis correctly rejects risky commercial fossil fuel projects, including Shannon LNG. We now call on the Government to make the existing moratorium on commercial LNG permanent in light of this analysis,” he added.
Other significant findings, FoE said, include:
Higher rates of electrification coupled with investment in significant renewable generation capacity should help to alleviate challenges in relation to gas security of supply by 2025 and 2030.
Britain’s access to global LNG markets means that almost all of its gas demand can be met under the shock scenario.
“While certain media commentators continue to wrongly frame energy security as simply equating to the availability of fossil fuels, the technical analysis recognises that security is about balancing supply and demand,” Mr MacEvilly said.
There were still many uncertainties, he believed. Even temporary State-backed gas infrastructure “runs the risk of locking in polluting emissions if clear restrictions and decommissioning plans are not put in place at the outset”.
The Government had not properly addressed how increasing gas and electricity demand from data centres runs the risk of undermining Ireland’s climate action and locking Ireland into expensive gas use, he said.
“We also have to remember that not all parts of Government have fully woken up to the fact that we are facing an energy crisis of affordability, pollution and supply. The overall solution to these three problems, and the best way to protect households and communities in Ireland, is the same: reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as fast as possible.”
People Before Profit climate spokeswoman Bríd Smith said the crisis must not be used as an excuse to further lock Ireland into a fossil fuel future, given other options existed to deal with any crisis. She rejected the assertion that gas supplies from the UK were in any way insecure or in jeopardy as “scaremongering” by vested interests.
She added: “The only real energy security in the coming years is a move to reduce our dependence on all fossil fuels, including gas, as opposed to investing in State-owned gas storage.”
Ms Smith said the entire energy crisis was a clarion call for governments to retake control of energy and to move away from ongoing market failures.
