Environment
We are committed to the highest standards of
environmental management and to proactively
addressing the challenges of climate change.
Our Energy Management System (EMS) supports us to meet energy efficiency and Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.
GHG emissions
Sustainability and decarbonisation principles are at the core of our business and strategic decisions.
We established our carbon footprint in 2019, aligned with global best practice. We selected 2010 as our baseline carbon year, a time before Corrib gas field commenced supplies of natural gas to Ireland. We utilised verified emission equivalency conversion factors from SEAI where possible, DEFRA and empirical data from staff activities such as commuting.
In 2021 our GHG inventory was independently verified according to the ISO 14064-3:2019 Specifications with Guidance for the Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Statements.
Low carbon pledge
We are committed to embedding sustainability and decarbonisation principles into the core of our business decisions and strategy.
In 2018 we signed up to the Low Carbon Pledge, a Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) initiative for Irish businesses to invest time and resources into creating a more sustainable operation, by being more energy efficient and reducing carbon usage.
To help ensure consistency and comparability of efforts across various companies the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard is used as the underlying framework for the Low Carbon Pledge. Signatory companies commit to the following:
- Record all Scope 1 and Scope 2 Carbon Emissions
- Reduce the amount of Scope 1 and Scope 2 Carbon Emissions Intensity
- Report (1) Individually through an Annual Report or Website or other publicly available equivalent source and (2) Collectively through an Annual BITCI Low Carbon Report
- Review year-on-year Scope 1 and Scope 2 Carbon Emissions with the aim of showing continuous improvement
- A reduction of 50% in Carbon Emissions intensity by 2030
While the pledge focuses on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions sources, we are actively focusing on emissions sources beyond this. We have implemented a travel policy aimed at reducing the carbon footprint associated with employee work-related travel, we are also working with our suppliers to implement carbon reduction initiatives.
Increasing the ambition of the Low Carbon Pledge and setting Science Based Targets
Business in The Community Ireland (BITCI) has furthered the ambition of the Low Carbon Pledge by supporting signatory companies to progress towards setting Science-Based Targets (SBT) by 2024, (i.e. what science says is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C).
Our COO, Denis O’Sullivan, is co-chair of the low carbon working group and in 2021 committed to developing Science Based Targets.
The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) are currently developing an SBT methodology for the oil and gas sector with a plan to publish the methodology in 2023.
Carbon disclosure via CDP
In 2020, we disclosed our carbon emissions and equivalents through the Carbon Disclosure Platform (CDP) for the first time. CDP’s annual disclosure and scoring process is respected as the world’s leading framework of corporate environmental transparency, ranking companies on a scale of A to D-, based on their comprehensiveness of disclosure, level of transparency, awareness and management of both environmental risks and opportunities, their demonstration of best practices, and their setting of ambitious and meaningful targets.
Improving on its inaugural CDP rating of a ‘B-‘ in 2020, we scored a ‘B’ in 2021 which demonstrates that we are taking co-ordinated action against climate change. We were also awarded a CDP Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) for the first time in 2021 and achieved an A- rating which we are particularly proud of. The SER is a letter grade that indicates how effectively companies are engaging their suppliers on climate change.
GHG emissions performance
Absolute GHG emissions reduction since 2010
-13.89%
Emission intensity reduction since 2010
-7.89%
* NOTE: We have increased the range of variables which have been included as Scope 3 emissions in 2021.
We have established a Climate Action Working Group to help achieve our carbon reduction ambitions. The Working Group is currently assessing several carbon reduction initiatives to help drive the company’s decarbonisation efforts. Each business unit has contributed to the identification of initiatives. All are currently being assessed based on the potential achievable emissions reduction and the associated mitigation/abatement cost.
Methane emissions performance
We also recognise that methane emissions have an increased negative impact on climate change than carbon dioxide. We have established a Methane Emissions Work Group to further align our quantification methodologies and identify methane emission reduction opportunities across the business.
We have developed a methane emissions management plan. This was presented this to the Gas Networks Ireland Board in December 2021. We include methane emissions as part of the Scope 1 GHG emissions reporting.
We are committed to accurately calculating our methane emissions from our network, and we are an active member of MARCOGAZ, the technical association of the European natural gas industry which has 25 members in 20 different countries across Europe. MARCOGAZ is a supporting organisation to the Methane Guiding Principles along with Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).
Fugitive emissions result from unintentional emissions of natural gas from equipment or components such as pipelines, regulators, valves, flanges, connectors, etc. on the gas transportation network. These can be the most difficult to quantify and so are estimated in line with industry developed methodologies. We utilise the “MARCOGAZ model” which allows for quantification of emissions from each source, and then aggregates same.
Our GHG inventory was independently verified according to ISO 14064-3:2019 Specifications in 2021 with Guidance for the Validation and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Statements. Conversion factors for carbon equivalents used are from verified sources.
GHG emissions
Year | Scope 1 (TCO2e) | Scope 2 (TCO2e) | Scope 3 (TCO2e) | Total (TCO2e) |
2010 | 215,603 | 5,370 | 6,460 | 227,433 |
2011 | 201,553 | 5,415 | 7,823 | 214,791 |
2012 | 189,467 | 5,493 | 4,802 | 199,763 |
2013 | 191,973 | 5,340 | 18,762 | 216,075 |
2014 | 192,109 | 5,416 | 6,358 | 203,883 |
2015 | 206,696 | 5,319 | 8,839 | 220,854 |
2016 | 177,182 | 4,922 | 5,839 | 187,943 |
2017 | 166,171 | 4,438 | 31,293 | 201,902 |
2018 | 178,608 | 3,515 | 29,446 | 211,568 |
2019 | 170,215 | 3,184 | 8,329 | 181,728 |
2020 | 188,440 | 2,914 | 5,676 | 197,029 |
2021 | 186,156 | 2,573 | 7,103 | 195,832 |
* we have increased the range of variables included in Scope 3 emissions category in 2021.
Gases included are CO2, CH4 and NO2. Final figures are reported in tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) utilising SEAI or DEFRA conversion factors where available or applicable.
The following sections provide more detail of the Scope 1,2 and 3 trends since 2010.
Breakdown of emission sources by activity
Activity | Emissions Source | |
Scope 1 | Unintentional Emissions of Natural Gas from Equipment | Leakages of natural gas from equipment/infrastructure on gas transportation network |
Metered Process Gas | Stationary combustion of natural gas to run turbine at compressor stations and to preheat gas at above ground installations prior to pressure reduction | |
Compressor Vented Fuel Gas | Natural gas vented between cycles at compressor stations | |
Offices - Gas | Stationary combustion of natural gas in offices for heating | |
Gas Networks Ireland fleet | Mobile combustion of petrol and diesel in our fleet | |
Refrigerant F-gas top ups | Top ups of systems with refrigerant F-gases. | |
Scope 2 | Offices – Electricity | Indirect emissions from purchased electricity used for offices |
Process Sites Electricity Use | Indirect emissions from purchased electricity used for above ground installations and compressor stations | |
Scope 3 | Main Period Contractor | Indirect emissions from main contractors (contractor scope 1 and 2 emissions; gas, electricity, diesel, petrol) |
Grey Fleet | Indirect emissions from mobile combustion of private car use fuel for employee business travel | |
Helicopter | Indirect emissions from mobile combustion of fuel for 3rd party helicopter used for pipeline surveillance | |
Water | Consumption and treatment of process and office water. | |
Waste | Recycling and recovery of Gas Networks Ireland waste streams. | |
Suppliers | Emissions from suppliers conducting business for Gas Networks Ireland. | |
Staff Commuting | Gas Networks Ireland staff commuting to and from work. | |
Remote Working | Electricity and heating energy consumption of Gas Networks Ireland staff while remote working. | |
Taxis | Emissions from Taxis taken for Gas Networks Ireland business. | |
Distribution Pipeline Construction | Embodied carbon of pipeline materials. | |
Transmission Pipeline Construction | Embodied carbon of pipeline materials. | |
Airline Travel including RF forces | Emissions from aircraft taken for Gas Networks Ireland business. | |
Rail Travel | Emissions from trains taken for Gas Networks Ireland business. | |
Printed Paper | Use of printed paper in Gas Networks Ireland office locations. | |
Transmission and Distribution electricity losses | Emissions associated with electricity grid losses. |
Our carbon intensity (TCO2/GWh) is based on the volume of natural gas transported through the gas network annually.
Gas Networks Ireland emissions (TCO2e)
Scope 1 Intensity (TCO2e/GWh)
Most of our carbon footprint is under the financial and operational control of the business. Our compressor stations in Scotland are owned by the business and operated by a contracting partner, but under our financial control. The elements of our scope 1 emissions under financial control are compressor vented fuel gas a portion of metered process gas.
Our 2021 scope 1 emission footprint has reduced by 13.66% from our 2010 baseline. The location base for our scope 1 emissions is nationally in Ireland and in the South West of Scotland. Our Scope 1 emissions are primarily accounted for by fuel gas consumed by compressor stations and heating of gas at our Above Ground Installation’s (AGI’s) along with fugitive emissions. Fugitive emissions are typically gas vented for safety purposes during essential maintenance, but also accounts for seepage from assets in the field.
Scope 1
Our scope 1 emissions have trended down from the baseline year of 2010 to 2019, in part, due to Corrib gas field becoming an indigenous supply point of natural gas. This reduced the volume of natural gas required through the compressor stations in Scotland, resulting in lower fuel gas required to compress natural gas before it reaches our pipeline in Ireland. As production of gas at the Corrib gas field is now declining, we are increasingly reliant on our compressor stations in Scotland, which impacts our scope 1 emissions.
Biogenic carbon
We have five dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vans in our fleet, emitting 0.215TCO2e in 2021.
Our traditional fleet is made up of both diesel and petrol vehicles. The carbon emissions for these vehicles has been included in our scope 1 emissions. The biogenic carbon* associated with fuel consumed in each fuel type is outlined below:
Fuel | Associated biogenic carbon (TCO2e) |
Diesel | 29.562 |
Petrol | 0.001 |
* While biogenic carbon is outlined above, we have accounted for the full carbon equivalent of the consumed fuels in scope 1. Biogenic carbon is calculated using the latest DEFRA emission factors.
Scope 1 (TCO2e)
Greenhouse gas emissions performance at Gas Networks Ireland’s compressor stations
Natural gas in Ireland is supplied by a combination of domestic production and imports via pipeline from Scotland. Currently, approximately 70% of Ireland’s natural gas is supplied from Scotland and the remaining 30% comes from Ireland’s indigenous source at Corrib, Co. Mayo. Vermilion Energy manage and produce the natural gas from the Corrib gas fields and Gas Networks Ireland facilitate the transportation of this gas but are not responsible for production of the gas.
Supplies coming in from the Moffat Entry Point in Scotland, require the use of compression facilities at Beattock and Brighouse Bay Compressor Stations in order to raise the pressure of the gas supplied from Moffat for onward transportation to Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Republic Of Ireland and to maintain pressures throughout the system. Gas is transported via the two subsea interconnectors, into the Gas Networks Ireland onshore ROI network at Loughshinny (IC1) and Gormanston (IC2). The pressure on the interconnectors is approx. 110 bar, with pressure reduction prior to entry into the 65barg onshore network.
One of the main contributors to Gas Networks Ireland’s Scope 1 emissions is the operation of our two gas compressor stations in Scotland. Gas is combusted at our compressor station turbines to transport the gas at required pressures. Compressor Stations also require an amount of gas to be vented in order to operate safely at times, such as starting and stopping of compressor units. The fuel gas combusted, and vented emissions are the main contributors to our carbon footprint for our compressors.
The fuel gas consumption, and therefore Scope 1 emissions (TCO2e) at our compressor stations for combustion and venting purposes is related to the Moffat throughput (which in turn is directly related to the increase / decrease of Corrib supply) as is evident in the chart nearby.
Gas Network Ireland compressor station combusted and vented gas emissions (TCO2e)
As Corrib declines and more gas is required to flow through Moffat, it is anticipated that the Onshore Scotland Compressor Station own use gas requirement (and Total Emissions TCO2e) will continue to increase.
Gas Networks Ireland have committed to reducing their carbon emissions intensity by 50% by 2030. Emissions Intensity (TCO2e/GWh) is a measurement of the tonnes of carbon equivalent emissions produced per GWh of gas transported. The chart below details the emissions intensity (TCO2e/GWh) for Brighouse Bay and Beattock combined in relation to the throughput at the station (Throughput is shown as a dotted line).
Emissions intensity (TCO2e/GWh) for Brighouse Bay and Beattock combined
Compressor station combustion intensity depends on operating the compressors within their most efficient range. Variation occurs where compressors are forced to operate outside of this range (e.g. intra-day throughput peaks).
As is evident from the graph “Emissions intensity (TCO2e/GWh) for Brighouse Bay and Beattock combined”, a significant improvement in venting has occurred in recent years, due in part to the Corrib decline and in part due to improved operation of the network.
Gas Networks Ireland has been working in conjunction with Premier Transmission Limited (PTL) and National Grid (NG) to minimise the within day flow volatility as a result of the timings of nominations received for the Moffat Interconnection Point. Late in the gas day nominations make it increasingly difficult for the Transporter to flow efficiently at its Scottish compressor Stations. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Office of Gas and Electricity Markets in the UK (Ofgem) and the Utility Regulator (UR) Northern Ireland have all granted approval to an amendment to agreements, which will allow the Transporter to utilise exit information to create a more accurate estimation of the end of day quantity, earlier in the gas day. This in turn, will allow for a more efficient hourly flow profile at the Scottish Compressor Stations throughout the gas day.
Gas Networks Ireland is also taking steps to address the volatility of the pressures received from National Grid, by installing control valves at Beattock Compressor Station, which will reduce suction pressures at Beattock to a level that will enable optimal turbo-compressor operation (i.e. the turbines will operate in Dry Low Emissions mode). This project is currently underway. It should be noted that this upgrade will stabilise higher pressures, only; it will not address lower pressure range (i.e. less than 60 barg) volatility.
Several options are being appraised, for decarbonisation across our operations (including compressor stations) and were submitted for price control consideration to our regulator in 2021.
Scope 2
Our scope 2 emissions have seen continued and sustained reduction in carbon emissions, from our 2010 baseline we have reduced our scope 2 emissions by 52.09%. Electricity used in our pressure reduction and compressor stations and electricity used in our offices is also included.
Electricity purchased to facilitate the operational requirements of Scope 2 are under our financial and operational control.
The reduction in electricity use in our office buildings is partly due to the relocation of our Dublin staff to Ireland’s first BREEAM rated building incorporating significant electrical upgrades, and to equipment and control capabilities in our headquarters.
We use UK electricity emission factors to assess the carbon emission totals for our compressor stations in Scotland and SEAI factors for Irish based assets.
Our scope 2 emission profile can be seen in the figure below.
Scope 2 (TCO2e)
Scope 3
We are committed to consistently increasing the scope of our carbon emissions reporting. Our scope 3 emissions have increased from our baseline year of 2010 due to increased scope and accuracy of GHG reporting by our main contractor. We are working to further improve supplier engagement and include scope 3 carbon emission reduction targets in supplier contracts where possible.
The location base for our scope 3 emissions is nationally in Ireland due to our contractor operating in all regions of Ireland on the national gas infrastructure. Our contractor’s main hub is in Dublin with satellite sites around the country. Our staff “grey fleet” also travels nationwide to provide day to day support for our team. We use helicopter services to perform aerial surveillance of our pipelines to help ensure that no construction work is commencing near our network.
A new 50km gas pipeline between Cluden and Brighouse Bay in Scotland was completed in December 2018. This accounts for the significant Scope 3 emissions in 2017 and 2018. Our scope 3 emissions have increased slightly from 2020 to 2021 due to increased scope and accuracy of GHG reporting by suppliers and increased traveling by staff following COVID restrictions in 2020.
Scope 3 (TCO2e)
All elements of Scope 3 are under the financial and operational control of our business.
Water | Consumption and treatment of process and office water. |
Waste | Recycling and recovery of Gas Networks Ireland waste streams. |
Suppliers | Emissions from suppliers conducting business for Gas Networks Ireland. |
Staff Commuting | Gas Networks Ireland staff commuting to and from work. |
Remote Working | Electricity and heating energy consumption of Gas Networks Ireland staff while remote working. |
Taxis | Emissions from Taxis taken for Gas Networks Ireland business. |
Distribution Pipeline Construction | Embodied carbon of pipeline materials. |
Transmission Pipeline Construction | Embodied carbon of pipeline materials. |
Airline Travel including RF forces | Emissions from aircraft taken for Gas Networks Ireland business. |
Rail Travel | Emissions from trains taken for Gas Networks Ireland business. |
Printed Paper | Use of printed paper in Gas Networks Ireland office locations. |
Transmission and Distribution electricity losses | Emissions associated with electricity grid losses. |
Our three pillars of sustainability
