Gas Networks Ireland recently reported a considerable augmentation in the country’s reliance on natural gas for electricity demand last month. Over half of the country’s electricity needs were fulfilled through natural gas, a marked rise due to a decline in power creation through renewable sources–attributable to unpredictable weather conditions. As a subsidiary of state-owned utility, Ervia, the gas network operator stated that the contribution of wind energy was only about a fifth in May, which is typically known for low-wind conditions.
The contribution of wind energy to electricity generation in May peaked at nearly 25%, however, there were instances where the contribution plummeted dramatically, as mentioned by the director of strategy and regulation at Gas Networks Ireland, Edwina Nyhan. This was due to the inconsistent weather conditions throughout the month.
In May, natural gas represented 55% of the total electricity produced by power plants in the Republic, a significant rise from previous months, with a 42% contribution in April, 36% in March, 37% in February and 44% in January.
Edwina further highlighted that, “Gas was the primary contributor to Ireland’s electricity in May, supplying up to 81% of the electricity at specific times and never falling beneath 20%. Such unstable conditions underline the crucial role of the gas network in ensuring the stability of the energy system. This will be particularly critical as more renewable energy sources are integrated into the electricity grid.”
Despite a sharp decline in demand from some sectors, the overall demand for gas, both for home heating and electricity generation, increased by 3% within the month, according to Gas Networks Ireland. Demand from the education sector plummeted by over half and fell by over a fifth in the healthcare and retail sectors.
Over the past 12 months, leading up to the end of May, the quantity of gas used as an alternative fuel for transport continued to rise, recording 28% growth, as per Gas Networks Ireland. This announcement arrived a week after Flogas launched the first self-service station dedicated to Bio-CNG refuelling in the Republic.