Gas demand in the first half of this year remained broadly consistent with the second half of 2024, new figures from Gas Networks Ireland show.
Gas accounted for 39% of Ireland's electricity generation in the first six months of the year, compared to 33% from wind.
The contribution from gas to power generation peaked at 90% and never dropped below 11% in the first half of the year, which Gas Networks Ireland said underscored its "critical" role in maintaining stability and reliability in the electricity system amid fluctuating renewable energy output.
Overall gas demand fell by 9% in June compared to May and by 7% compared to June 2024, during what Met Éireann described as the fourth warmest June on record, albeit wetter and duller than average across much of the country.
Gas generated 36% of the country's electricity in June, down from 40% in May and 42% in June last year.
Its contribution peaked at 90% and never dropped below 14% in June, while wind accounted for 30% of electricity and ranged from less than 1% to a peak of 75%.
Gas Networks Ireland said the energy system's reliance on gas during low renewable output was evident between June 9-14, when gas supplied 42% of electricity and wind supplied 23%. A similar pattern occurred from June 29-30, when gas generated 58% and never dipped below 31%, it added.
Meanwhile, demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) grew by 26% on last year.
Made by compressing natural gas down to less than 1% of its volume, CNG is a more environmentally friendly fuel than petrol or diesel and provides the Irish haulage industry with a cleaner alternative fuel option.
Fuelling with CNG can reduce a heavy good vehicle’s emissions by up to 22%, and with CNG suppliers now sourcing gas via renewable sources, BioCNG can turn a HGV into a carbon neutral vehicle, providing the Irish haulage industry with a clean alternative fuel option.
But demand for gas across most sectors saw annual declines in June, with reductions in the residential (-21%), leisure/sports arenas (-17%) and retail (-14%) sectors, due to the warm weather which reduced heating needs.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Director of Strategy and Regulation Edwina Nyhan said that June's data again illustrates how gas consistently supports electricity generation during periods of low wind, helping to keep the system secure and balanced.
"The steady growth in demand for CNG, including a 26 per cent increase in June year on year, reflects continued momentum in decarbonising the transport sector. This progress is further supported by recent developments such as the opening of a new public CNG station in Dublin and the launch of the GRAZE vehicle grant scheme, which is already generating strong interest from fleet operators," Ms Nyhan said.
"At the same time, we are making important strides in supporting the build out of the biomethane industry, including the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with CycleØ to help connect new biomethane production sites to the gas network," she added.
