Getting to zero carbon emissions by 2050- Commercial and Regulatory Director, Brendan Murphy

1. Decarbonising the gas
network: getting to zero
carbon emissions by 2050
Brendan Murphy

2. Ervia is a company of size and scale
1,700
employees
We operate gas and
water infrastructure
and services 24/7
365 days a year
1.7m
customers

3. Our Purpose
To enhance the
health and quality
of life of the people
of Ireland, protect
our environment
and enable
economic
development

4. Ireland’s Energy Mix
Oil
57%
Coal
2%
Peat
1%
Natural Gas
16%
Electricity
19%
Renewables
4%
Wastes
1%
Total Final Consumption
Oil Coal Peat Natural Gas Electricity Renewables Wastes
4
• Ireland’s dependency on oil must change if
we are to meet climate targets.
• Natural gas meets 16% of final
consumption and generates over 50% of
the electricity.
• Gas network can be decarbonised and can
replace fossil fuels in electricity generation,
home heating and transport.

5. 2050 – A Zero Carbon Emissions Gas Network
5
-10.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 2038 2040 2042 2044 2046 2048 2050
Demand(TWh)
Hydrogen Total
Biomethane Total
Natural gas (CCS) Total
Natural gas unabated
Total

6. 6
Carbon Capture &
Storage

7. Gas is critical to Ireland’s electricity system
7

8. Decarbonising Electricity Generation – Ireland needs CCS
8
June 2018 – Power Generation by Fuel Type
No other technology visible today to provide
long-term, low-carbon peak supply - securely
No credible alternatives to Gas+CCS – AT SCALE
Nuclear - Not legally allowed
Hydro - Lack of resource
Biomass - Unsustainable
Batteries - Scale unachievable
Electrical I/C - Inadequate & unreliable
Long periods with very
little wind

9. Experts agree on need for CCS
The UK Government should not plan to meet the
2050 target without CCS
To stay ‘well below 2 degrees’ CCS would provide
32% of global emission reductions
Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees will require
‘the use of negative emissions technology’ Bio
Energy CCS will be critical

10. And CCS continues to develop
18
Large scale CCS facilities
operating globally as of
2018.
MT of CO2
has been
captured
since 1972.
23 MT in
Norway.
230+
40
Million tonnes of CO2 can
be captured annually
6,500
KM of CO2 pipelines
operating safely
2025
The United Kingdom created joint
industry/gov working group to
develop CCS by mid 2020s

11. Carbon Capture & Storage
• CCS - carbon neutral power
for Ireland
• Could capture & store 2.5
million tonnes of CO2 pa.
• Potential for export of CO2
• CCS needs to be supported,
similar to wind energy.

12. 12
Biomethane

13. Biomethane: Ireland has a significant opportunity
13
• Highest resource
potential in the European
Union
• Offers opportunity for
farmers to diversify
• Enhances Ireland’s
Security of Supply
• Needs to be supported
*Optimal use of biogas from waste streams: An assessment of the potential of biogas from digestion in the EU beyond 2020 (European Commission Report, 2016)

14. Utilising biomethane to decarbonise home heating
14
Least cost and least disruption
to the homeowners
Avoids expenditure on ‘deep’
retrofits of over €50bn
Supports Ireland’s indigenous
renewable gas sector
Increased utilisation of an
existing state asset worth over
€2.6bn
Decarbonising homes utilising
biomethane offers:

15. 15
Compressed Natural
Gas Vehicles

16. • Over 25m CNG vehicles globally
• Min network of 70 CNG stations across Ireland
14 stations by 2020
• Transition from natural to renewable gas
• Initial CO2 reduction of up to 22%
• 99% less Particulate Matter
Biomethane can also decarbonise transport
16
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Biomethane transport EV
Subsidy required per t/CO2
abated

17. 17
Hydrogen

18. Hydrogen will also play a key role – UK leading the way
18
• Converting North of England (3.7m
connections) to a hydrogen network. Potential
to decarbonise 70% of homes by 2050 in UK.
• Converting industrial demand in Liverpool &
Manchester to hydrogen including a
residential blend
• Hydrogen blend trial on a private network

19. 19
Key Messages
• The Irish Gas Network can be carbon neutral by 2050 with
the right supports for CCS, Biomethane and Hydrogen
• The consumer needs to be at the heart of the transition.
Least cost and least disruptive technologies will be favoured
by consumers.
• To achieve decarbonisation Ireland will need to utilise all its
assets. Electricity and gas networks will be critical.