Half year gas demand statement – for the first six months of 2022
Gas was primary source of electricity generation for five of the first six months of 2022
Total gas demand for the first half of 2022 was down slightly on the same period last year (-1%), but the first six months of 2022 saw an 8% increase on the last six months of 2021.
In comparison to the same period last year when public health restrictions were in place, there were some significant increases in the demand for gas across the retail (+94%), laundry (+65%), hotel (+39%) and leisure/sport arenas (+33%) sectors. However, gas demand fell over the same period in the construction (-30%), education1 (-13%), and residential (-12%) sectors.
Gas generated 45% of Ireland’s electricity in the first six months of this year, as it did for the same period in 2021, while wind energy and coal both increased by two percentage points generating 36% and 10% respectively.
At times during the period from January to June 2022, gas powered almost 90% of the country’s electricity, peaking at 89% and never dropping below 8%, while coal peaked at 28% with a low of 2%.
Wind peaked at 77% but given the variable nature of weather dependent renewable energy sources, there were also times in the first half of the year when the wind supply dropped completely and didn’t contribute to electricity generation.
Reflecting on the gas demand over the first half of the year when gas was the primary source of electricity generation for five of the six months, Gas Networks Ireland’s Head of Regulatory Affairs, Brian Mullins said:
“As the first half of the year shows, gas continues to be the backbone of Ireland’s energy system and is the ideal partner to complement renewable energy sources such as wind.
“Being able to harness wind energy when it is available and back it up with the flexibility and reliability of gas when it’s not, provides a secure and complete energy system for the people of Ireland.”