Gas Networks Ireland has announced a landmark development of gas infrastructure to connect Bord na Móna's Edenderry Renewable Energy Complex to the national gas network.

This grid connection will enable natural gas and renewable gas to integrate including biomethane and green hydrogen, into the fuel mix at the County Offaly renewable energy complex.

Once finished, the transmission connection project will immediately facilitate a reduction of approximately 40 per cent in CO₂ emissions at the County Offaly energy complex which supports the national energy grid in times of high demand. It provides 116MW of electricity to help balance the intermittency of supply from other energy sources in the country.

Through this investment, a 22 kilometre steel transmission will be constructed which will connect Bord na Móna's renewable energy complex in Edenderry, to Ireland's €2.8 billion gas network. The project will initially support the transmission of natural gas, with a shift to renewable gases over time.

As the licensed Gas Transmission Operator, Gas Networks Ireland has significant in-house skills, competency, and technical expertise, built over five decades of delivering gas securely for Ireland.

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Ireland has one of Europe's safest and most advanced gas networks, facilitating the efficient, economical and secure conveyance of natural gas alongside renewable gases like biomethane and green hydrogen.

The Transmission Connection project is currently undergoing initial planning and development stages, aiming for construction commencement in 2027 and full operational status by 2029. Gas Networks Ireland plans to involve local communities by hosting public information sessions in the upcoming weeks, offering deeper insights into the project and its advantages.

Gas Networks Ireland's newly appointed Director of Assets & Infrastructure, Brian Sheehan stated:

"The gas network plays a critical role in Ireland’s energy landscape, and this connection for Bord na Móna marks a significant step towards a greener future. The gas network can be adapted to transport zero-carbon gases, such as green hydrogen. It has already transformed once, from carrying town gas to natural gas over 40 years ago, and more recently adapted to biomethane when it was first introduced onto the Irish network in 2019.

"Gas Networks Ireland is fully committed to this strategic infrastructure development project and has assembled a dedicated team to ensure its success."

John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna, said: "We are delighted to announce this partnership with Gas Networks Ireland which will have a transformative effect on our Edenderry Renewable Energy Complex - enabling us to decarbonise our existing infrastructure by approximately 40% once the transmission connection is complete and natural gas is fully incorporated into our fuel mix. The project will facilitate the transmission of natural gas in the immediate term with an opportunity to shift to renewable gases like green hydrogen and biomethane in the future.

"Our existing diesel generation assets located at the Edenderry Renewable Energy Complex play a key role in supplying 116MW of electricity to the national energy grid during periods of high demand when solar and wind energy availability is limited, and this development will ensure these generation assets are operating even more sustainably, as one of the largest on-demand renewable electricity generators in Ireland."