Total gas demand in November was up 17 per cent compared with a year earlier, while Ireland’s reliance on foreign gas continues to grow significantly, new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows.
The increase in November’s demand was largely driven by a 30 per cent increase in demand from power plants, with about two thirds of Ireland’s gas demand used to generate electricity.
The CSO said last November’s gas demand by power plants was the highest recorded since the series began in 2018.
Power Plants accounted for 65 per cent of total gas demand, while non-daily metered customers, who are largely domestic users and small businesses, represented 21 per cent of total demand.
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The CSO noted that gas demand was high partly because wind speeds were low, which limits the amount of renewable electricity available. There were also a number of cold spells.
There were 22 days with a lower daily mean wind speed recorded at Dublin Airport than in November 2023, which the CSO said was “likely a contributing factor”.
The data also indicates Ireland’s reliance on foreign gas is growing. Imports represented 84 per cent of total supply, while indigenous production from the Corrib gasfield off the Mayo coast – Ireland’s only current reservoir – and biomethane plants accounted for the rest.
By way of comparison, imports of gas in November 2018 represented just 48 per cent of total gas supply, while indigenous production accounted for the remaining 52 per cent.
Imports of gas in November were 25 per cent higher year-on-year, while indigenous gas production was 12 per cent lower.
Most of Ireland’s gas is imported via the Moffat Interconnector, a pipeline that connects the country with Scotland, and which also supplies the Isle of Man. The gas imported comes from British or Norwegian reserves.
In the first 11 months of 2024, imports were 3.4 per cent higher, while indigenous production was down 5.9 per cent compared with the same period in 2023.
Total gas demand was 1.3 per cent higher in the first 11 months of the year, while gas demand by power plants was largely unchanged, with an increase of just 0.1 per cent.
The CSO data is based on daily and monthly natural gas supply and demand figures from Gas Networks Ireland, which said last month an all-time record for gas demand was set on January 8th, less than a month after the previous record had been set on December 13th.
David Kelly, director of customer and business development with Gas Networks Ireland, said gas accounts for nearly half of Ireland’s electricity supply and is “absolutely crucial” for keeping the lights on and supplying its 725,000 customers.
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