Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 March 2023
59. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made towards the target of reducing demand for fossil gas by 15% as part of the RePowerEU plan; the reason the reduction in demand for fossil gas in the State was the smallest in the EU, only reducing demand by 0.3% compared with the EU average of 19%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/23]
View answerThe Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1369 on coordinated demand-reduction measures for gas, requires that each Member State use their best efforts to reduce their national gas consumption from 1 August 2022 to 31 March 2023 by at least by 15% compared to their average gas consumption for the same period over the previous five years.
Information provided to my Department by Gas Networks Ireland indicates that overall gas demand, including power generation, was trending at a reduction of 0.4% lower than the 5-year average. When gas used for power generation is excluded, demand has decreased by a greater amount, with a reduction of 13.6%.
Ireland has a high reliance on gas-fired generation, particularly as a back-up when wind-powered generation is unavailable. Around 50% of electricity in Ireland is generated from gas, which represented around 55% of total of natural gas demand for this winter period. Given the current tightness in the electricity system, there is presently limited scope for fuel switching in the power sector.
Ireland is not subject to the mandatory gas demand reduction requirement, along with Cyprus and Malta, which would apply in the event a union alert were declared by the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Council regulation.
