Energy security3 Jul 2022 11:03
More and more energy sector observers and participants are calling out Ryan’s flawed ideology and significant concerns around Ireland’s energy security are now being reported on a daily basis,..GL S
National power system in ‘very dangerous’ position, say experts
With the British government reportedly planning to stop supplying the Benelux with gas supplies should shortages occur, fears are growing that Ireland could be cut off too
Ryan recently told the Business Post that the energy from the country's future off-shore wind farms off the south and west coast could be converted into hydrogen for use as a back-up system. He said he would be developing a hydrogen strategy later this year.
"So, my view is the real potential for us is using hydrogen, green hydrogen as the zero-carbon storage gas for all the different uses of the future," he said.
However, analysis carried out by the Irish Academy of Engineering suggests hydrogen technology is still decades away.
“The idea that hydrogen is somehow going to solve this problem is not realistic. Maybe in 25 years’ time it will, but right now, hydrogen is still a future technology. It’s in existence nowhere in the world at the moment. There are still all kinds of problems with hydrogen, including the fact it’s very difficult to store,” Moore said.
“It’s a crazy decision not to have an LNG terminal in Ireland, which is still government policy, and it has only added to this current problem. We’re the only country in Europe with a coastline that doesn’t have an LNG import facility.
“To me that’s amazing and incredibly foolhardy. I just wonder why the Commission for Regulation of Utilities [CRU] haven’t been more vocal on this. What exactly are they doing? It’s the CRU’s job to ensure the energy security of the state.”
The government still has not published a long-awaited review of Ireland’s energy system, which was first commissioned in 2019 by then minister Richard Bruton, to assess the security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems.
“My sense is that the report on Ireland’s energy security has been buried,” a senior energy industry source said.
“Minister Ryan doesn’t want it out there as its findings are likely to include recommendations to build gas storage and LNG infrastructure, which is the very antithesis of his policies.”
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU launched its multibillion-euro RePower EU plan, which sought to provide direct supports to member states to build biomethane facilities, gas storage and LNG infrastructure. These supports included capital grants of up to 40 per cent on such infrastructure.
“Ireland didn’t apply for any funding under the scheme. I’ve never seen such an opportunity missed in my entire career. It’s a terrible shame,” the source added.
https://www.businesspost.ie/news/national-power-system-in-very-dangerous-position-say-experts/
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