February 9, 2021 9:40 am
The national gas network powered 51% of the country’s electricity requirements for 2020 and more than 85% at its peak in August.
Wind supplied 36.7% of electricity and coal and peat – a combined 7.9%, prior to Ireland’s remaining peat plants ceasing operation in December, according to the latest data from Gas Networks Ireland.
Overall, gas demand was largely stable in a year of economic turbulence, with a small drop of 0.3% of total demand largely down to reductions in some commercial sectors due to Covid-19.
Sectors
Significant reductions in gas usage were observed across construction (-25%), hotels (-11%), travel (-24%), leisure (-36%) and laundry (-35%) as the impact of national Covid-19 restrictions was felt across Ireland during the bulk of 2020.