Page 13 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

IRELAND

Demand for gas in Ireland reaches all-time high

NATURAL GAS DEMAND Renewable gas will gas support Ireland’s vital future. In developing this
for power generation hit an be available on the gas but intermittent renewable indigenous energy source,
all-time high in Ireland in network from late in 2018 generation, it also ensures Gas Networks Ireland is
2018. and Gas Networks Ireland that the use of heavy- not only reducing the
Network reports that aims to supply 20 per emitting generators country’s dependence on
up to 90 per cent of the cent of Ireland’s gas from such as coal-powered imported fuels, but is also
country’s electricity supply renewables by 2030. This Moneypoint and peat substantially reducing CO₂
was generated from natural equates to 15 per cent stations in the midlands, is emissions and providing
gas with an average of 70 of electricity generation kept as low as possible. a significant boost to the
per cent over June and July. demand or the heating “Ireland is now facing agriculture sector. The
This was a significant requirements of up to hugely challenging 2030 development of renewable
year-on-year increase, one million homes. EU climate change targets. gas and other sustainable
compared to a generation reports have indicated that The arrival of renewable solutions will require
figure of 60 per cent for Ireland has the greatest gas, a direct substitute investment and support
the equivalent period in potential for renewable for natural gas, comes to deliver the quality of
summer 2017. gas deployment of any at a critical junction, life that people expect as
The substantial rise in of the EU 27 countries. It delivering clean energy and we progress to a low-
the use of natural gas is estimated that the roll security of supply for the carbon future.” ■
is attributed to the fall out of renewable gas in
in renewable energy Ireland will support 6,500
generation in June and jobs, mostly based in rural
July, when the warm Ireland.
weather saw renewable Ian O’Flynn, Head
generation at an average of Commercial at Gas
of only 14 per cent. In July, Networks Ireland, said:
wind generation supplied “Gas is fundamental to
as little as 0.3 per cent guaranteeing Ireland’s
(11MW) of electricity electricity supply, and
demand, resulting in to delivering the power
significant variation in required to run our homes
output, with the gap filled and businesses, even Ireland is facing challenging
by flexible, natural gas- when the wind stops 2030 climate change targets
fired power plants. blowing. Not only does

CYBER SECURITY
Oil and gas industry ‘needs to wake up who are developing

to cyber threats from hostile states’ disruptive capabilities in
order to deliver power
projection for their own
A typical large oil and long-term geopolitical and
THE OIL AND GAS industry the former Deputy Director gas company uses half a polItico-military ends.”
should brace itself for the of GCHQ has warned. million processors just Mr Lord added: “If they
increased risk of cyber Brian Lord OBE said a for oil and gas reservoir are not taken now, hostile
attacks from hostile states, successful attack on its simulation and stores actors will continue to
infrastructure could cause petabytes of sensitive and virtually roam freely and
“unprecedented damage” and competitive field data. unchallenged around oil and
“unrest across the world”. Mr Lord said: “The oil and gas infrastructures, achieving
With a complex gas industry is the second a greater understanding
ecosystem of computation, most susceptible to cyber- of how to deliver future
networking, and physical attacks, with the potential attacks at will.
operational processes to cause unprecedented “As it digitalises its
spread around the world, damage and unrest across workforce to keep up with
the industry has a large the world. increasing demand, it is
attack surface with many “The primary cyber threat clear that the industry will
Brian Lord OBE attack vectors, reports The to oil and gas infrastructure continue to be a target for
Independent. comes from hostile states such actors.” ■

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News.indd 8 20/09/2018 12:15