131. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what analysis he and his Department are undertaking or commissioning in relation to alternative means to improving energy security other than a floating regasification and storage unit in the context of Ireland's decarbonisation obligations and plans, and whether the analysis will be subject to public consultation given the importance of public participation in environmental decision-making to which we have committed in the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44644/24]

My Department completed a study in 2022 with CEPA on energy security (Technical Analysis of the Security of Energy Supply of Ireland’s Electricity and Natural Gas Systems). The Final Energy security review titled “Energy Security in Ireland to 2030” recommended an additional entry point for gas in the form of a Floating Regasification and Storage Unit (FRSU) to satisfy the N-1 infrastructure standard (i.e. the loss of the largest importing infrastructure, without loss of load). The assumptions underpinning this were based on the period of 2028-2030 being of most critical importance.

The following have subsequently happened/ become apparent:

Actual electricity flows with GB are distinctly different in 2023 and 2024 from that predicted by CEPA (i.e. a prediction that we would be exporting 97% of the time in 2025.)

Battery storage is currently about 3 times that predicted in the CEPA analysis for 2025.

Two interconnectors, with France and UK, are in construction. Two other interconnectors with UK are now in regulatory processes. Proposals are being developed for two further interconnectors with the Continent.

Solar is growing much faster than predicted, and continuing to accelerate.

New, more ambitious 2040 climate targets are being proposed by the Commission, bringing up the question of whether we’ll be taking most or all of the actions which would constitute an alternative to the LNG FRSU anyway.

The timeline for delivery of the FRSU would be 2031, and given the potential difficulty through the development process, this could be optimistic.

Therefore, I have asked my Department to update the analysis to consider the issues above and also the following

• Further additional policy options, e.g. regulation to phase out the use of fossil heat for less than 200 degrees in industry by 2035 and for commercial and residential buildings from 2045. The context for these regulatory steps includes both the energy security risks associated with the use of gas in the Irish context, and emissions.

• The retention as an available backup of Moneypoint in oil-fired mode for longer than previously anticipated.

• The potential to increase the feasibility of distillate operation of gas plants including by increasing storage and by connecting power plants to existing storage at suitable locations.

• The potential for the batteries in EVs to be relied on to supply the grid in times of crisis.

• The potential cost savings, should storage and interconnection enable scaling back the peak electricity generation capacity which is currently being procured at great cost.

The analysis requested at this stage is of the potential for these mechanisms, not the detailed working out of how they would be implemented.

I have asked my Department, when the analysis is available, to make it public for consultation in light of the importance of public participation in environmental decision-making and our commitments in that regard in the Aarhus Convention.