Public facilities have long since recognised the critical role that providing a comfortable environment plays, by maintaining appropriate levels of heating, cooling, lighting and air quality within buildings – from hospitals to schools and government offices. At the same time, growing budgetary pressures and rising prices are putting a focus on reducing the cost of providing these services.

These cost and efficiency drivers necessitate the delivery of more energy services for less energy input, at a lower cost – through investment in more efficient technology, more efficient operating practices, improved controls and monitoring and management to ensure sustained benefits are delivered and to take corrective actions when they are not.

The issue of ageing and inefficient energy infrastructure can, in parallel, be a serious concern to many establishments, distracting from their core priority. A partnership with an energy services provider, whose core focus is energy efficiency and guaranteed saving reductions, can deliver these benefits. Partnership would bring security of energy provision with cost, energy and carbon savings through overall efficiencies and improvements in the site’s running costs, allowing a healthcare provider for example to concentrate on their primary goal. To illustrate, the provision of lighting, heating and cooling, while critical, is non-core, and presents an opportunity to outsource delivery.

For success, organisations need the support of energy management professionals who understand that energy efficiency can only be achieved through a full energy cycle approach with delivery know-how. For any site to do this sustainably, they need firstly to take a long-term view of their business, their site and their relationship with the energy and utilities management company they work with, as the required contracts can last anywhere between 5 and 25 years.

Securing the supply of input energies such as oil, natural gas, biomass or electricity is the first and vital step in terms of comfort and care; however, it is not the end goal. These input energies need to be transformed (e.g. converting oil into heat, electricity into cooling etc) into useable forms, distributed (for example hot water through piping networks) and then consumed at the point of customer need (radiators, light fittings etc). Efficiencies and cost savings can be made by focusing on one of these steps. However, it is through the integrated management, measurement, monitoring and targeting of the entire energy process in a co-ordinated, structured approach which delivers the maximum benefits to the establishment.

Dalkia customers benefit from:

• Operational improvements (security, availability and reliability of utilities supply, energy efficiency, risk transfer)

• Cost & financial efficiency

• Carbon reduction

To discuss what your organisation could look at towards achieving sustainable energy efficiency improvements, contact: Tony Doherty, General Manager at Dalkia Energy & Utilities Services, at 07879036270 or email infoni@dalkia.co.uk or info@dalkia.ie

Briefly outline EST’s current work in Northern Ireland:

We provide free and impartial energy saving advice to around 50,000 householders in Northern Ireland each year. In the face of rising fuel prices and last year’s cold winter, the provision of advice and information on the smaller ‘behaviour changes’ is as essential as insulation and helps cut heating and electricity costs. This empowers people to affect change themselves with regards to making their homes warmer and more energy efficient. Early figures from last year would suggest that our advice helped householders in Northern Ireland save over £3 million in fuel and electricity costs.

We continue to act as programme administrator for the Utility Regulator’s Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, which is a £7 million levy fund, comprising many energy saving schemes.

Clients, such as utility companies, benefit from the provision of data, insight and statistical verification work via our knowledge team.

What innovations lie ahead in energy advice?

Ongoing work to reduce domestic energy consumption through the more traditional channels is still necessary, and are now helping energy related organisations to provide their own bespoke advice to their customers directly, via our Endorsed Advice Service, which has UKAS accreditation. This will support and assist companies to provide the right information best suited to their customers’ needs.

But I suppose the next ‘big thing’ we are looking at involves water efficiency. This hasn’t been fully explored in Northern Ireland and, in particular, the associated savings through efficient hot water use. Approximately a quarter of domestic CO2 emissions and a third of gas bills are attributable to heating water. This would result in a double win; by reducing water consumption at the user end and realising additional energy savings via a reduction in the overall energy consumption of providing clean water and waste-water disposal. The Energy Saving Trust has developed online consumer tools and a commercial water modelling tool to simulate the impacts of retrofitting water saving devices. We are also looking at the provision of behaviour change advice to complement any retrofit activity.

How will charitable status change the organisation?

Charitable status will allow us to be more innovative. We will be able to take the initiative, and respond effectively to the carbon-saving opportunities that may arise through new business, like the Great Britain Green Deal. Our not-for-profit company will continue to deliver substantial government-funded programmes while the wholly owned trading subsidiary will provide an innovative range of services, which businesses and organisations can buy to benefit their customers. Surplus monies earned via the trading subsidiary will be channelled back to the charitable foundation.

We will remain independent and committed to the provision of impartial advice to householders, whilst continuing to be the public face of energy saving, but now we are able to utilise our know-how to help grow the green economy, assist people out of fuel poverty and remain at the forefront of energy saving in the UK and beyond.

If you would like more information on any of our services, please contact Patrick Thompson, Operations Manager at the Energy Saving Trust patrick.thompson@est.org.uk or call 028 9072 6006

“We’ve got to look for good role models and not merely the nearest but our real problem in Northern Ireland is complacency,” says Graham Gudgin in a sharp critique of the region’s economic culture. Gudgin currently works at Cambridge University’s Centre For Business Research and has analysed Northern Ireland’s economy since 1985.

“The most immediate place to look is the Civil Service,” he says of the problem. “They’ve existed for decades, just shovelling British tax-payers’ money into very willing companies in Northern Ireland.”

He also finds that attitude among many businesspeople, who cannot comprehend an economy without grants.

In his view, the whole system breeds complacency and politicians “don’t want to know any better”. As EU state aid winds down, he blames the Civil Service for ignoring alternatives: “We’ve seen this tsunami coming for several years now and they’ve done nothing about it.” Instead, it is the Secretary of State who has been pushing for lower corporation tax.

Northern Ireland’s decline, though, can be reversed as a smaller country with a more troubled history has shown. Estonia’s business R&D rate quadrupled from

0.16 per cent of GDP in 1999 to 0.64 in 2009. Its overall rate stood at 1.42 per cent. The UK and Irish percentages were 1.87 and 1.77 respectively. Northern Ireland’s in-house business R&D figure for the same year was 1.0 per cent (of GVA).

The Baltic state endured a 58-year Soviet occupation and emerged from communism in 1991. It followed the examples of Finland and Sweden (Europe’s two leading R&D states), building on its existing cultural links.

“Even countries that came out of the Soviet Union [and] did essentially no R&D at all, got their act together and are overtaking us,” Gudgin warns. “The world isn’t standing still.”

Invest NI does give generous grants to companies undertaking R&D in Northern Ireland but not many of these firms exist. He rejects the agency’s “not much we can do about it” attitude.

“This is why [cutting] corporation tax is important in attracting high tech companies,” Gudgin explains. “We’ve got to get our companies more R&D-minded and collaborating with the universities, and perhaps with each other.”

Companies starting up in R&D could receive direct government support but through a very different model. Finland’s state-owned research institute (VTT) employs 3,167 staff and has a €292 million turnover.

“We’ve got nothing like that,” he states. “We could set up an institute that is really to act as a middleman between not only Northern Ireland’s universities but the whole UK universities, to try and introduce that sort of research to companies: to give companies the confidence that they can do it.”

Going further, Gudgin contends that all other business grants should be ended. “Why would you do that?” was the response in Finland and Sweden where the focus is entirely on R&D. A name change from Invest NI to Innovate NI was a no-brainer and “learning by doing” would give the agency a pro-innovation attitude.

In contrast, British R&D has been falling for several declines, partly due to the rapid decline of manufacturing. The UK has “put all our eggs in a sort of financial basket” and the Republic took a similar gamble on corporation tax.

One way that Finland “cracked” the innovation problem was by “mobilising the whole society in collaborating between the education system, universities, civil service [and] companies in a way that we don’t.”

Isolation is no excuse. Finland is nearly twice as far from Europe’s centre as Northern Ireland, and has high tech research centres on the Arctic Circle. To him, the lessons for our small region are therefore very clear.

Kingspan Telemetry Solutions

Kingspan Environmental is the market leader in oil measurement technologies. The Kingspan Telemetry portfolio comprises of the SonicSignalman which is an easily installed one piece unit that uses technology to sense the level of fuel or liquid in the tank and communicates this data via GPRS mobile networks and the internet to any web enabled computer terminal. SonicSignalman readings are received into your depot, office or personal or work computer, giving you visibility on what is happening in your tank.

Our SonicSignalman GSM telemetry solution offers many benefits for householders, housing associations, government departments, the private sector and utility companies.

Multiple benefits for many sectors:

• Central procurement – Facilitates better oil buying power by enabling the user or manager to see the quantity of fuel in the tank population;

• Energy management and building performance – Core energy management facility by providing oil usage rate information;

• Health and safety – Reduces the need to climb on tanks to dip for levels and avoids having to install hand rails and permanent ladders etc;

• Stock reconciliation and end-of-year accounting – Flash update on working stock which is accurate to one day;

• Fuel management – Allows management of fuel and traceability of small amounts;

• Logistics – Optimise delivery costs by delivering maximum capacity only when fuel is needed and reduce panic buying and run out in bad weather.

Pay-as-you-go-oil Solution

Kingspan Environmental recently welcomed the opportunity to work with Minister McCausland and his department to further develop the Fuelserv pay-as-you-go oil solution for vulnerable households. This unique technology will allow oil from tanks to be released to boilers on a pay-as-you-go basis, helping those most in need to budget and benefit from the savings gained by those buying in larger quantities. The pilot scheme to tackle fuel poverty will begin early 2012 in partnership with Carillion Energy Services.

Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

For those of you managing one or multiple fuel storage tanks we would like to highlight the control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 which came into force on 20 March 2011. Enforced by The Northern Ireland Environment Agency, these regulations were introduced to promote better oil storage and to minimise the risks of oil being lost to the environment by installing a bunded oil tank (doubled walled tank). These regulations have applied to all new tanks in commercial and public sector properties from 20 September 2011 and will apply to existing tanks within

50 metres of a water course in these sectors by 20 March 2013. Remaining oil storage tanks will have to be bunded by 31 December 2015.

Kingspan Environmental has a Oil Storage Technical Helpline to help you with any advice you may need 0800 345 7178.

If you are interested in the telemetry or oil storage solutions that Kingspan Environmental has to offer then please contact our Business Development Department on 028 3836 4415 or email ciara.murphy@kingspanenv.com

“A property company” is the best way to sum up the Crown Estate, according to Dermott Grimson. As Head of External Affairs for a unique organisation, he is increasingly involved in preparing the seabed for renewable development. The Glaswegian explains that “like any other property owner, we want to invest in our property in order to make the most of our assets and help others make something of the asset too.” Profits have totalled £1.9 billion over the last 10 years.

It generates money from property held by the Crown and its annual surplus goes to the UK Government. The Crown Estate portfolio includes virtually the whole seabed out to the 12-mile territorial limit, and it has rights to explore and exploit the natural resources of the continental shelf. However, the body is waiting for a diplomatic agreement on who owns the seabed off Northern Ireland. An answer is needed before leasing starts.

Under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, Northern Ireland was defined as the island’s six north-eastern counties. However, the Act did not set its maritime limits. As the territory of counties ends at the low water mark, the seabed off Antrim, Down and County Londonderry may technically not be part of Northern Ireland.

Article 2 in the Irish Constitution originally stated that the national territory consisted of “the whole island of Ireland, its islands and the territorial seas.” It currently gives no territorial definition. Talks are continuing between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

“It’s not a dispute,” he comments. “There have been very fruitful discussions with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland so it’s just a matter of making sure we can get it right.”

The Crown Estate will be able to grant lease options to developers in Northern Irish waters but the Northern Ireland Executive will have the final say, as the consenting authority.

Offshore renewables have “advanced quite considerably” in recent years. He notes that Ernst & Young has consistently named the UK as the most attractive country for offshore wind development “so we see that as a strong signal that investors are interested.”

Successful bidders for Round 3 sites off Great Britain have been announced and he expects construction to start once Westminster finalises its renewables obligation banding review (consultation closes on 12 January) and publishes an offshore renewables roadmap.

The offshore renewables industry needs “long-term certainty” and he hears “encouraging” noises from the UK Government. However, to him, the real big issue is cost: “Unless the industry can get its cost down to £100 per MWh, it’s difficult to see all that’s on the stocks being delivered.”

An industry-led Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force was announced in October and will report back to UK and devolved ministers in spring 2012. To feed into that work, the Crown Estate is undertaking a large research project into cost reduction, which it hopes to publish by the end of 2011.

More work needs to be done on understanding the levelised costs of offshore wind (compared to nuclear, gas or coal CCS) and he adds the sector will “undoubtedly … be an important part of the energy mix.”

Grimson is encouraged by Northern Ireland’s willingness to look beyond just what’s happening immediately off its shores. Indeed, he welcomes Harland and Wolff and Dong Energy’s development in Belfast Harbour, which will support the West of Duddon Sands wind farm (389MW). Construction is expected to start in early summer 2013 and expected to be fully completed in 2014.

Gas production companies need to be transparent, according to incoming American Gas Association President Ronald W Jibson. The Questar Corporation CEO told agendaNi that producers need to be willing to show what their frack method is: “They all have their own recipe and they need to be open about what’s in that frack load and then maybe change that.” Gibson believes that “if there are harmful products there, they [the producers] may need to change that,” and that producers need to work with environmentalists to resolve the debate.

Environmentalists remain unconvinced. For Friends of the Earth’s activism co-ordinator, Niall Bakewell, “getting it wrong just once, for such a porous and connected waterway that you have throughout Ireland, is just too big a risk to take.”

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is a method of extracting fossil fuels from rock. In extracting shale gas, it is conducted from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations by forcing up to 10 million gallons of fluid between 5,000-10,000 feet below ground.

Australian company Tamboran was granted a five year licence from 1 April 2011 from DETI to explore and potentially drill for gas in Fermanagh. While Arlene Foster and the DUP support the method, there is opposition to it from Green, Alliance, Sinn Féin and SDLP MLAs. The UUP wants to see a detailed environmental impact assessment before any fracking happens. The TUV says they tend to be against it but would like to see more investigation of the practice.

Fracking for gas occurs by cracking open the rock formation and channelling the gas into an onshore well. It is said to be necessary to let the fossil fuel flow from the rock into the wellbore at an economic rate. The fluid injected into the rock usually consists of water, sand (to hold fractures open after treatment) and chemical additives. Gels, foams and compressed gases can also be injected.

It is supported because of its ability to reduce market costs and its contribution to a worldwide flow of gas, particularly in the US domestic market where gas market prices have almost halved in two years. The US and Canada are estimated to now have gas security for approximately 100 years.

Fracking has been the subject of increasing scrutiny and environmental debate. Frack fluid is claimed by some to contaminate groundwater (for example in Wyoming in 2006 where shallow groundwater was found to be contaminated) and the gases and chemicals are said to have the potential to migrate to the surface. There are also worries from residents about the potential mishandling of waste.

The practice has been banned in France and suspended in New South Wales in Australia, and New York and New Jersey. In 2004 a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency found that injection of fracking fluids into coal bed methane wells posed minimal threats to underground drinking water. The study, however, did not focus on other aspects such as disposal of fluids and other environmental concerns. It also occurred before the number of contamination claims started to grow.

A 2011 study by Duke University, North Carolina, found that groundwater tended to contain much higher concentrations of methane near fracking wells, with a potential explosion hazard. It found that the methane’s isotopic signatures and other geothermal indicators were consistent with it originating in the fracked deep shale formations rather than any other source.

Fracking in Lancashire was suspended after two small earthquakes in April and May this year, which occurred after drilling operations. An independent study directed by Dr Hans de Pater (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands), concluded that it was ‘highly probable’ that the quakes were triggered by the fracking.

PPS18 was released in 2009 in order to prepare for an increase in renewable energy applications stemming from the European Union’s 2020 targets (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent on 1990 levels, to generate 20 per cent of energy from renewables and increase energy efficiency by 20 per cent.) The Strategic Energy Framework’s target to generate 40 per cent of electricity and 10 per cent of heat from renewables by 2020 adds more pressure to bring about that change.

From October 2010 to October 2011, renewable electricity generation averaged at 10.6 per cent (882,276 MWh) of total electricity generated in Northern Ireland (8,331,515 MWh), despite Northern Ireland having considerable wind potential. The consensus in the energy sector is that the planning system is burdensome, bureaucratic and too readily takes the side of local opposition.

PPS18 encourages the integration of wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass energy technologies and the application of passive solar design (i.e. for heating and cooling) in the siting and layout of the development.

For wind turbines, PPS18 points to supplementary planning guidance which notes that large scale landscapes where the turbines do not impact on the horizon, tourism sites, surrounding buildings or landmarks (perhaps brownfield or industrial sites that are already affected by masts, pylons or chimneys) are the most likely to get planning. Applications for areas with a “scenic quality”, cultural importance or that have a “wild or tranquil character” are less likely to be passed.

Wind farm developers also have to consider the impact of existing turbines and those with undetermined applications. They must assess the risk of causing a landslide or bog-burst and ensure that it won’t impact on telecommunications systems such as air traffic control or emergency services communications. Safety problems arising from noise, ice throw or reflected light must be considered, and plans must be in place to dispose of the technology and restore the site if necessary.

Damage caused by construction of the renewable technology must be mitigated by compensation such as a habitat management plan or creation of a new habitat.

The statement sums up: “Development[s] will be permitted provided the proposal, and any associated buildings and infrastructure, will not result in an unacceptable adverse impact on public safety, human health, or residential amenity; visual amenity and landscape character; biodiversity, nature conservation or built heritage interests; local natural resources; and public access to the countryside.”

Queen’s academics Geraint Ellis and John Barry, in a 2010 paper entitled: ‘Beyond consensus? Antagonism, republicanism and a low carbon future’, argue that the search for consensus between opponents and developers should be replaced with “open and honest” debate.

In order to meet the 2020 targets in the next decade, local opponents should be engaged in “meaningful engagement” e.g. through public enquiries, citizens’ juries and planning appeals. The possibility of locally enforceable energy targets should be considered, the pair suggest.

Ellis’ research found that although visual impact is the most common cause for opposition, it is given a low priority in the planning process. Opposition peaks when a development is proposed but declines when it is built. The regulators and developers can portray opponents as ‘deviant’, thereby heightening their antagonism.

Ellis and Barry concluded that proper engagement with local residents would be “a radical departure from the current planning process” and would increase the likelihood of gaining support.

Sustainability is a key priority for Translink.

Most recently, the 2010-2011 Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme ranked Translink as the highest scoring organisation in Northern Ireland and the highest ranking transport organisation in the UK. A mandatory scheme run by the UK Government’s Environment Agency, it encourages large private and public sector organisations to reduce their carbon footprint by developing and implementing energy management strategies and included more than 2100 participants from across the UK.

In 2010-2011, Translink’s overall carbon emissions were reduced by 3 per cent compared to the previous year and the organisation continues to look at ways of conserving energy and improving energy efficiency through technology, work practices and employee awareness initiatives.

The following example clearly shows how sustainability is influencing Translink’s long-term vision for local passenger transport.

New Antrim Integrated Bus & Rail Station

In early 2012, Translink will start construction work on a modern, innovative and sustainable passenger facility serving the Antrim area in line with its ‘Go Eco’ business focus.

The £3 million Antrim Integrated Bus and Rail Station project is part-funded by the Department for Regional Development and through the European Union INTERREG IVB North West Europe (NWE) financial scheme as part of the ‘SusStation’ Achieving Sustainable Stations Project.

The facility will be a modern, attractive, accessible and comfortable transport hub fit for today’s busy lifestyle. It represents a further major milestone in the development of bus and rail passenger facilities for Northern Ireland.

Local people can not only expect a first class integrated bus and rail station meeting their travel requirements but one that will also involve the sensitive restoration of the railway’s listed building façade.

The integrated designs for Antrim raise the bar in terms of environmental and sustainable station development in Northern Ireland with the following features planned to ensure that the station’s environmental impact is controlled:

• roof mounted solar panels;

• a natural ventilation system;

• a naturally insulated green roof;

• a grey water harvesting system;

• a reclaimed clay facing brick and triple glazed curtain walling.

Additional integrated bus and train passenger facilities will include:

• a park and ride facility providing 180 spaces;

• a new traffic management system and improved pedestrian access;

• an integrated bus and rail ticket office;

• an enclosed modern accessible waiting area;

• new public toilets and parent room;

• commercial and retail space; and

• new staff facilities.

The project clearly highlights that there is an opportunity for future passenger facilities to really embrace sustainable features and technology to be more environmentally-friendly and operate more efficiently. In addition to the environmental benefits, this imaginative project has the potential to raise the profile of public transport.

Soft measures are also part of the project and there is considerable opportunity to engage with local communities and stakeholders to demonstrate how sustainable travel options contribute to the economic, social and environmental development of a region.

Plans for Antrim have already attracted European interest with a delegation of representatives from the European SusStation Project – an initiative that supports the construction of sustainable stations – visiting the site to view and discuss the cutting-edge project with both Translink and local political representatives.

The new Antrim Integrated Bus & Rail Station plans are now on display to the public in Antrim train station with the project due for completion in the summer of 2013.

For more information contact:
Web: www.translink.co.uk
Tel: 028 9066 6630

Veridis Energy believes that its proposed energy from waste (EfW) plant on the outskirts of Belfast provides a ‘win-win’ solution for diverting waste from landfill. Despite encountering many obstacles, Jim Lynas and Harry McCourt have remained committed to their vision of creating Northern Ireland’s first major EfW designed to accept the residual fraction of municipal, commercial and industrial wastes which can not be recycled or composted.

This shared vision would make a valuable contribution to both waste recycling and power generation in Northern Ireland, whilst helping the Executive, councils and the private sector to dramatically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Earlier this year, Harry’s drive and knowledge within the global waste arena was rewarded when his other company, EMS Ltd in Portadown, was awarded a multi-million pound contract by the Kurdistan government to help it find sustainable solutions and develop infrastructure to target its growing waste problems. Likewise, Jim’s sister company IRS recently received planning consent for a new state of the art recycling facility which will ensure that all recyclable material is recovered prior to thermal treatment.

Strategic importance

Co-owner of the Veridis project, Jim Lynas sees the plant as playing a vital role in dealing with waste which is currently going to landfill whilst meeting the challenge to generate more ‘green’ heat and electricity.

“The benefits of the project for Northern Ireland’s economy are significant. We believe that the project will help solve our over reliance on landfill whilst creating a secure and sustainable renewable energy source. We are already recycling and recovering materials, so only those wastes which cannot be recycled will be recovered as fuel for the EfW,” he added.

The company is only too aware of the hefty EU fines that Northern Ireland will incur if strict landfill reduction targets are not met Jim said. “We are making every effort to communicate our proposals and clarify any concerns that politicians and the public may have. The project provides a single solution to many environmental, commercial and energy related issues.”

As a facility that provides both heat and power, it will contribute to Northern Ireland’s renewable energy targets and in particular Northern Ireland’s strategic goal of 40 per cent renewable electricity generation by 2020. The facility will generate 12.5 MW of renewable power which is enough to supply 20,000 homes.

The project represents a capital investment of over £40 million with the potential for a large percentage of that being invested as sub-contracts for local steel fabrication, electrical, mechanical and IT companies.

“The project is expected to create over 100 construction jobs and up to 40 permanent posts with further spin-off and auxiliary posts during construction and subsequent operations. In times of economic crisis, this private sector investment has to be a welcome opportunity for the people of North Belfast and further afield.”

Technology

Jim and Harry have sourced reliable and environmentally sound technologies for their proposal. “We have worked in partnership with our technology provider, carefully selecting ‘Best available technology.’ We have chosen this particular combustion technology due to its proven track record right across Europe,” Harry commented. Commenting on potential concerns over environmental impacts, Jim explained: “I understand people’s concerns regarding waste treatment plants. Our facility is designed to minimise impacts on the surrounding countryside whilst ensuring that state of the art low emissions technology protects the environment. We are also working proactively with the regulatory authorities to bring an impacted site back into beneficial use.” Jim concluded: “Veridis is committed to developing the project within a timeframe.”

For further information on the Veridis Project please contact Edward Hanna (Head of Strategic Operations and Public Affairs) at edwardhanna@veridisenergy.com 

Web: www.veridisenergy.com

“Given the uncertainty around technological developments and alternative energy, keeping the high gas future option open is relatively cheap compared to everything else,” James Greenleaf tells agendaNi. Greenleaf is a senior energy consultant at Redpoint which conducted a study examining four scenarios ranging from gas being used at levels similar to today, to its elimination from the energy mix by 2050. It found that there is a “credible and robust” case for the continued use of gas.

Gas could offer a cost-effective solution for a low-carbon transition by providing flexibility in the storage and energy balancing at times of low renewable output. It is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, and therefore could play a transitional role while new technologies are developed, the study concluded.

The two key drivers for continued gas utilisation will be the commercialisation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and electricity and heat storage technologies.

CCS development will have to be supported by biomethane injection into the gas distribution network, allowing gas to maintain its role in domestic and industrial heating. Combined heat and power (CHP) district heating systems are on the cards as well as the electrification of vehicles.

The four scenarios analysed by the study (outlined below) were examined at the Northern Ireland Energy Forum.