Ireland’s 14,725km natural gas network is one of its most strategically important and relied upon national assets. The network has played a key role in the economy for almost 50 years and is set to do for many years to come, according to Ronan Galwey, acting chief executive at Gas Networks Ireland.
“Natural gas from the Kinsale Head field was first brought ashore in the late 1970s and that helped to drive economic activity in the south of the country. The pipeline to Dublin was completed in the 1980s and that facilitated further economic development. After that we developed the two interconnector pipelines to Scotland and expanded the network within Ireland to reach many more towns and cities.”
Today, the network meets 30 per cent of Ireland’s primary energy needs, that’s all the energy consumed in the country, not just heating and power. “Last year, 41 per cent of the country’s electricity demand was generated using gas,” says Galwey. “In addition, 40 per cent of all heat for homes and industry is met by the natural gas network.”
Dependability is one of the network’s key characteristics. “Being completely underground means it is very resilient,” he notes. “We had 100 per cent availability during the recent storms and other severe weather events. The network is also very flexible. For example, if there is high demand for heat and power during a cold snap and wind isn’t available, we can flex up to meet that requirement. We have invested significantly and it is one of the most modern gas networks in Europe as a result.”
While keeping the lights on and heating our homes and businesses today is critically important, the network’s role in the decarbonisation of the country’s energy system is also significant. “We are committed to supporting the energy transition,” he says. “In the near term, we will provide the gas to the power stations needed to back up renewables generation and in the longer term we will decarbonise our own network by switching to renewable and zero carbon gases.”
Continuing economic growth is driving increased demand for electricity, he explains. That means the requirement for conventional generating plants will actually increase in the short term at least, due to the need for readily available backup power when the wind drops, or the sun doesn’t shine.
“Up until 18 months ago, we hadn’t connected a new power generating plant to the network in about 10 years. Within the next two or three years, we will connect 10 to the network.”
The next stage in the evolution of the network will see a move towards transporting renewable gases. One of the these gases is biomethane, which is produced from agricultural and organic waste through an anaerobic digestion process. Gas Networks Ireland is working with several companies around the country to facilitate network connections for their biomethane facilities.
“There are two routes to connection,” Galwey adds. “Those plants in close proximity to the network can be directly connected. Where that is not practical, we are investing in central grid connection points. The biomethane can be transported from the plants and injected to the network there. The first of these will be in operation at Mitchelstown in 2026.”
A number of direct connections are planned or under way. “The biomethane industry is establishing itself,” says Galwey. “Our role is to ensure the network is there for the anaerobic digestion plants around the country. We plan to connect all facilities as they come into operation. By 2030, our aim is to have biomethane accounting for 12 per cent of gas on the network. That will meet the Government’s Climate Action Plan target of carrying 5.7 terawatt hours of biomethane on the network by that point.”
In the longer term, the network will carry increasing amounts of green hydrogen as it becomes available. “It’s another renewable gas that can be transported safely by the network with some modifications. We recently published our ‘Pathway to a Net Zero Carbon Network’ document, which sets out how the network can be fully decarbonised by 2045 with natural gas being completely replaced by biomethane and green hydrogen.”
By changing the molecules we transport to renewable gas, the gas network of tomorrow will continue to be as relevant as it is today. “Molecules are a key part of today’s energy mix and will be part of the future mix, it will just be different molecules in the network. We will need molecules to back up our increasingly integrated energy system, where electricity and gas networks work completely in sync with each other, which represents the optimal solution for the provision of future energy supplies in my view.”
“However, we are very conscious of current energy cost pressures on households and businesses, and the significant future costs to enable the transition of the entire energy system to a net zero future,” says Galwey. “We believe that the realisation of a decarbonised gas network is in the best interests of Ireland’s energy customers, offering a least cost and least disruptive means of decarbonising energy use for many, and a vital alternative decarbonisation path for those consumers for whom electrification is very challenging.”
According to Galwey, “Overall, A repurposed gas network will not only provide an economical approach to decarbonising some of Ireland’s energy consumption but will also provide the Irish State with valuable options for future energy ambitions, such as greater energy security and independence, and the possibility of net energy export via the existing gas interconnectors.”
The maintenance and security of our network is of critical importance. The strategic gas emergency reserve is the liquefied natural gas facility recently given the go-ahead by the Government, and Gas Networks Ireland has been tasked by the Government with its delivery. “We take our role in delivering this vitally important security of supply project very seriously. A gas emergency can quickly turn into an energy emergency and then into an economic emergency for Ireland. We are committed to providing an effective solution on behalf of the State.”
Prudent financial management over the years has left the company with a strong balance sheet and the ability to raise funds in the capital markets to fulfil its investment requirements. “We have very low leverage in comparison to peer organisations. This gives us the capacity to make investments on behalf of the state. We demonstrated that at the end of 2024 when we issued a new €300 million corporate bond. That was very well received with very strong demand from the investor community. We will be issuing further bonds in future as we move forward with our capital programmes.”
It’s not all about finance, of course. “Underpinning all of that is our highly skilled and capable workforce and our brilliant Irish supply base,” he concludes. “It is their expertise that enables us to deploy capital effectively. I am proud and honoured to have been asked recently to step into a new role as interim CEO, having served as CFO for six years before that. My focus is on delivering our exciting work programme which will see us continue to invest in the future of the network and support the decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy system.”
