Balancing security of supply and decarbonisation

SSE examines how biomethane could play a key role in decarbonising Ireland’s power system.

As Ireland strives to deliver a low-carbon future, it must grapple with a significant challenge: how can that future be delivered while protecting security of supply?

A renewables-led system remains the necessary destination. But at the same time, Ireland must ensure it has the required flexible generation to back up that renewable output, supporting the system during periods of low wind.

Today, power stations like those located at SSE’s Great Island site in County Wexford are integral to the system; providing a reliable flow of power while also having the flexibility to step up generation when needed, including during periods of low wind output.

Indeed, gas-fired generation still provides most of Ireland’s electricity supply. And given the forecast increase in electricity demand, the reality is that new flexible generation will have to be delivered in Ireland. The challenge for policymakers, regulators, and industry is balancing how to deliver that new capacity in a way that meets decarbonisation targets without compromising on security of supply.

SSE has been at the forefront of this issue and is currently delivering a new power station at Tarbert in Co. Kerry, capable of running on sustainable biofuels (HVO).

But while sustainable biofuels have a clear role to play, Ireland requires multiple solutions. The SEAI’s Decarbonised Electricity System Study, which is currently underway, is examining this issue in depth.

Their findings will feed into the Government’s forthcoming Energy White Paper. To inform this, we have recently worked with international energy consultancy AFRY to examine the potential for low-carbon fuels in flexible generation.

The resulting report, Decarbonising Flexible Generation in Ireland, assesses biomethane against a range of other options including hydrogen, ammonia and HVO. The study considered not only the emissions reduction potential, but also the practical realities of deployment, including how quickly technologies could be scaled and how they could integrate with existing infrastructure. And while all have a role to play, it is biomethane that appears to tick the most boxes.

Ruth Young, a co-author of AFRY’s report, says: “Through the analysis, biomethane emerges as the most credible near-term option for reducing carbon emissions from flexible generation. Biomethane stands out because its benefits extend beyond reducing carbon emissions.

“Unlike some alternative fuels, biomethane offers the potential to make greater use of Ireland’s own resources, creating a domestic source of renewable gas while reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.

“Biomethane’s relevance to Ireland lies not only in its potential contribution to decarbonisation, but also in its ability to support energy security through the development of a domestic renewable gas industry.”

Energy security has become a growing priority across Europe as governments seek to balance decarbonisation with resilience and affordability. For Ireland, biomethane offers particular advantages. The report finds targeted use for flexible generation would require only a proportion of Ireland’s future biomethane resource, allowing it to support a lower-carbon power system while also serving other parts of the economy.

The report also points to another practical advantage: biomethane is compatible with existing gas infrastructure in Ireland. This means it could potentially be deployed more quickly than some alternative pathways which require significant new infrastructure or technologies to be developed at scale.

Young says: “The ability to utilise existing infrastructure could be an important advantage as Ireland looks to accelerate the transition towards lower-carbon fuels.”

That potential is already beginning to be demonstrated, with Gas Networks Ireland recently connecting Bia Energy’s €90 million Huntstown biomethane plant; the first renewable gas producer to supply biomethane directly into Ireland’s gas network.

If Ireland is serious about biomethane’s role in decarbonisation and energy security in the near term, the next question is, what policy environment will be required to unlock domestic biomethane production?

While Ireland has established ambitious targets for biomethane production, deployment today remains at an early stage. The AFRY report examines policy mechanisms that could help bridge the gap between ambition and delivery.

Drawing on examples from countries including Denmark, France, and Czechia, the analysis explores international approaches to supporting both biomethane production and demand.

“Developing a biomethane sector at scale will require the right policy framework, investment signals and collaboration across the energy system,” Young adds.

The commercial outlook for biomethane remains dependent on future market and policy developments. While higher carbon prices could strengthen its competitiveness over time, long-term policy certainty would likely be critical to attracting investment and scaling domestic production.

The report comes as Ireland prepares for a major expansion of renewable generation. As more wind and solar connect to the system, attention is increasingly turning to how Ireland can keep power available when renewable output falls, and how Ireland can maintain a secure and reliable power system while continuing to reduce emissions across the technologies that support it.

Addressing that challenge will require coordinated action across government, regulators, and industry. To help inform that discussion, SSE recently brought together key stakeholders to examine AFRY’s findings and consider the role biomethane could play in Ireland’s future energy mix. The report adds to a growing debate about how Ireland can reduce emissions from flexible generation while maintaining security of supply.

Biomethane is not the only route to lower-carbon flexible generation. But if the most effective solutions are often those that can be deployed quickly, at scale, and using existing infrastructure, should it now move closer to the centre of Ireland’s energy debate?

W: www.sse.com