Plans for a carbon-neutral gas network by 2050

Cork is a key gas region, with over 83,000 households and over 3,300 SMEs and large businesses using gas everyday 

Gas Networks Ireland operates one of the most modern and safe gas networks in the world.

Gas Networks Ireland operates and maintains the country’s gas network — essentially the pipes under the ground and its associated infrastructure above ground. A national asset valued at €2.8bn, it operates one of the most modern and safe gas networks in the world, ensuring the efficient and secure supply to over 700,000 homes and businesses. Covid-19 was significant in the changed demand for energy — a period where GNI’s priority was to maintain a safe supply of gas to homes, businesses and vital services such as power stations and hospitals.

 “At times in April gas was being used to generate over 80% of the electricity in the country,” Brian Mullins points out. “The flexibility that gas brings is essential in situations like this. Covid-19 hit many businesses hard and we worked with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to put in place a scheme which allowed SME customers to suspend their standing charges — this helped to preserve cashflow for 2,500 businesses.” Covid-19 reduced our emissions by effectively freezing the economy. “We need to find ways of delivering emissions reductions on a sustainable basis, which allow our economy to function.”