Gas demand increases despite Covid impacts

Leisure, waste management, manufacturing and construction sectors saw a fall in usage while domestic usage increased

More than half of gas usage in Ireland is for power generation. Picture: iStock

Gas demand in Ireland increased in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2019.

Figures from Gas Networks Ireland show heating demand from homes and schools grew 7% between August and September as the weather turned cooler. 

In the year to date, overall gas demand is up by 1%, despite the impacts of Covid-19, as residential gas demand and gas for power generation remained strong.

The power generation sector is the largest user on the gas network, typically representing over 50% of gas usage at any given point. 

In the third quarter, 61.7% of Ireland’s power generation was sourced from natural gas. 

The reliance on gas for power generation peaked at 90% on occasions during the third quarter, with a minimum of 38% of electricity generation coming from gas-fired power plants. 

This complemented other generation forms, particularly wind, which at times represented over 70% of generation in high wind conditions. 

From a gas network perspective, gas usage for power generation in Q3 was up 10% year on year, driving a 2% increase year to date.

On a sector by sector basis, gas demand from pharmaceuticals, retail, hotel and office are all ahead of this time last year. In contrast, some sectors particularly affected by Covid-19 saw notable decreases in gas demand including leisure, waste management, manufacturing and construction.