Gas Networks Ireland, part of the Ervia group, manages the natural gas network across Ireland, impacting over 680,000 homes and businesses. The company focuses on sustainability, offering community education programs and promoting renewable gas as a cost-effective solution for heating and transport. They are also establishing a network of compressed natural gas stations to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

1. 62 BUSINESS PLUS AUGUST 2017
G
as Networks Ireland, part of the Ervia Group, owns,
builds, and maintains the natural gas network in
Ireland connecting over 680,000 homes and
businesses to a safe, efficient and secure supply of natural
gas. With over 550 employees, Gas Networks Ireland is
committed to growth, innovation and sustainability and is one
of only 25 companies in Ireland that holds the Business
Working Responsibly Mark.
The company has a dynamic Corporate Responsibility
strategy for 2017-2019 in place and the programme is
managed, delivered and measured across the pillars of
Marketplace, Environment, Community, Workplace and
CR Governance and Communications. Some highlights
from the programme are outlined here.
COMMUNITY IMPACT KEY FACTS
Gas Networks Ireland delivers a number of nationwide
community programmes focusing on the areas of education
and employability. The programmes highlight the importance of
education and encourage students to stay in school to realise
their potential. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
are at the core of the business and the company supports a
number of STEM related educational programmes.
n The company supported 83 community initiatives in 2016.
n Over 5,000 students nationally participated in their
educational programmes in 2016.
n In 2016, one in five employees volunteered on community
programmes with a total of 1,073 volunteer hours.
n The company donated 4,500 carbon monoxide alarms to
Age Action.
RENEWABLE GAS
Reports published in 2017 by the European Commission and
the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland highlight the
potential of renewable gas to supply 20% of Ireland’s gas
needs using the existing infrastructure by 2030.
Renewable gas can be produced from a wide range of
sustainable organic residues such as domestic organic wastes,
agricultural slurries, crop residues, and food/beverage industry
wastes. The process of extracting gas (called Anaerobic
Digestion) also eliminates environmental emissions including
greenhouse gases and pollutants that affect air and water
quality. The output from the AD process also includes a very
effective bio-fertiliser which is more readily absorbed by
agricultural land than typical synthetic fertilisers, and is also
far better than spreading raw slurry.
Industries in Ireland are looking for renewable heating
solutions, and renewable gas represents the most cost-effective
solution, and there is also a growing demand for renewable gas
as a fuel for public and commercial transport. Gas Networks
Ireland is promoting a solution based on renewable gas
injector points on the national gas network. Once the gas is
injected into the network, it is the same as conventional natural
gas and is available for use by all customers.
COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES
Commercial vehicles using diesel account for 3% of the
vehicles on Irish roads but 20% of total energy used and 30%
of total transport emissions. If these vehicles were converted
to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the benefits would include
cheaper fuel for fleet operators, lower air pollution, and
reduced noise pollution.
This year Gas Networks Ireland has started to develop the
first of 14 stations of a planned network of 70 CNG filling
stations around the country. In addition, the renewable gas
injection points will provide support to commercial vehicle
owners wishing to purchase dedicated CNG vehicles,
ensuring that renewable gas will become part of Ireland’s
transport fuel mix.
According to Denis O’Sullivan, Head of Commercial, Gas
Networks Ireland: “CNG, and renewable gas, will play a major
role in Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Gas
Networks Ireland is determined to play our part in facilitating
the development of a new, cleaner CNG transport network for
commercial vehicles and also in ensuring that renewable gas in
our existing network becomes a reality.”
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROFILE
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle outside Gas Networks
Ireland’s office in Finglas, Dublin
Christina van der Kamp, CSR Manager, during an ‘Our Universe’
workshop, which fosters interest in STEM subjects among
schoolchildren
Gas Networks Ireland is committed to responsible business practice, ensuring that environmental,
ethical and social principles are at the core of business decisions.
Gas Networks Ireland