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INDUSTRIAL AFFILIATES EIC TEAMS UP WITH
CADENT TO IMPROVE
RENEWABLE GAS AT UTILITIES FOR PEOPLE

FOREFRONT OF GAS NETWORKS WITH DEMENTIA

IRELAND’S 2050 PLAN

ONE IN SIX PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 80 HAVE DEMENTIA
IN NOVEMBER, IGEM Industrial
Affiliates EIC and Cadent teamed up
with the Alzheimer’s Society to host
GAS IS USED TO GENERATE AROUND a workshop on how innovation in
50 PER CENT OF IRELAND’S ELECTRICITY the utilities sector could improve the
quality of life and safety of people
GAS NETWORKS IRELAND and its energy system. This is aligned with the living with dementia in the UK.
parent company Ervia say they will core part of our Vision 2050 roadmap.” The workshop took place on 6
reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions by a Denis O’Sullivan, Managing Director November in Wembley and saw
third with their Vision 2050 plan. of Gas Networks Ireland, said: utility companies, charities, SMEs,
Using a combination of technologies, “Because Ireland’s €2.6 billion gas and innovators come together to
Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) intends to network is one of the most modern discuss the challenges people living
reduce Ireland’s total carbon emissions and safe gas networks in the world with dementia and their carers face,
by one third and create a net zero with no capacity constraints, it can plus ways the utility sector can
carbon gas network. be used with minimal investment to address them.
GNI’s vision is that by 2050 half of facilitate renewable energies including Attendees heard insights from
the gas on Ireland’s network will be renewable gas and hydrogen. experts from the Alzheimer’s
renewable gas and hydrogen. The other “We believe that the gas network Society about the support needed
half will be ‘abated gas’, from which the has a long-term role to play in meeting for those living with dementia and
carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been removed our nation’s energy demand and that had the opportunity to explore
via carbon capture and storage (CCS). Ireland cannot achieve its climate how innovation plays a key role
The company’s Vision 2050 plan ambitions without it. in discovering ideas, products,
outlines the role the gas network and “We have already started to deliver and services that can promote
technologies such as renewable gas, our vision for 2050 with renewable gas independent living.
compressed natural gas (CNG) for being injected successfully into Ireland’s Jo Giles, Customer Safeguarding
transport, CCS and hydrogen will play gas network for the first time, the Manager at Cadent, said, “As
in tackling climate change and securing opening of the first public CNG refuelling providers of vital services, the utilities
Ireland’s sustainable energy future. station and our work on the potential of sector is committed to prioritising
“We believe that natural gas with CCS hydrogen and CCS technology.” the needs and protection of people
along with renewable gas and hydrogen Gas is used to generate around 50 in vulnerable situations. Our aim is
are all part of our energy future,” said per cent of Ireland’s electricity. A move to empower those people to be able
Cathal Marley, interim CEO of Ervia. to 70 per cent renewable sources for to live well and not be left behind by
“We welcome the Climate Change electricity generation, such as wind an industry that is rapidly changing.
Advisory Council’s recent statement and solar, is planned by 2030 as part The work we are doing with the EIC,
that highlighted the importance of of the nation’s climate action targets. starting with this workshop, is key
natural gas as a transition fuel and According to GNI, achieving these targets to understanding how the industry
that if we are to decarbonise the Irish “will require a significant reliance on can come together to facilitate
economy by 2050, there will be a need gas-powered electricity generation” to innovation and make a difference to
for significant deployment of CCS with provide balance and ensure Ireland has people living with dementia.”
natural gas as a component of Ireland’s a secure energy supply.

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