Ireland Establishes Emergency Gas Reserve at Cahiracon

The Irish government has announced plans to establish an emergency gas reserve at Cahiracon, Co Clare. This initiative follows a cabinet decision earlier this year aimed at bolstering the country’s energy security. Minister for Energy Daragh O’Brien confirmed that the reserve will be developed in the form of a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU) operated by Gas Networks Ireland (GNI).

The FSRU will be a large vessel capable of storing and transporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). It can convert LNG back into a gaseous state for distribution through the national gas network. The government emphasizes that this reserve will be utilized strictly in emergency situations, ensuring a layer of security for the nation’s energy supply.

Once the site is fully acquired, GNI will advance to the design phase, which will subsequently be submitted to the government for further approval. The reserve will have a capacity of 170,000 cubic meters of LNG, sufficient to meet Ireland’s gas demands for seven days.

In order to maintain the pressure within the storage tanks, some ‘boil-off gas’ created during the LNG evaporation process will need to be expelled. A minimum amount of this gas will be sent to the national gas network, resulting in the need for the reserve to be replenished up to six times a year. The FSRU will be stationed at a purpose-built jetty in a designated coastal area in Ireland.

Ireland currently faces challenges regarding its domestic gas storage capabilities, raising concerns about energy security should an interconnector, which supplies gas imports, become compromised. Critics of the plan, including environmental advocates, express significant concerns about the expansion of gas infrastructure at a time when global efforts are increasingly focused on reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Ciaran Brennan, a spokesperson for the environmental NGO network Environmental Pillar, has voiced apprehensions about the initiative. The group warns that the development could deepen Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels and potentially “lock us into a gas infrastructure when we should be moving to clean, renewable, and fossil-free energy.”

As the government proceeds with this project, it will be essential to balance energy security needs with environmental responsibilities. The establishment of the emergency gas reserve at Cahiracon represents a pivotal step in addressing immediate energy challenges while igniting a broader discussion about the future of energy in Ireland.