Gas Networks Ireland said it does not envisage any disruption to gas supply during the winter months.
The gas network operator's 2023/24 Winter Outlook shows that there is both enough gas supply sources and enough network capacity to meet the anticipated gas demand projections over the coming winter period.
This includes in the case of a "1-in-50 winter peak day" - which is an extremely cold day that would only occur once in 50 years.
Today's report shows that about 18% of the State's natural gas requirements is expected to be supplied from the Corrib gas field off the coast of Co Mayo during the months from October 2023 to March 2024.
Gas supplies from Great Britain via the Moffat interconnector - Ireland’s entry point for imported gas - is forecast to supply almost 82% of overall gas demand this winter.
According to the UK's National Gas Transmission, there is no significant forecasted change to the supply quantities available to the UK, and hence to Ireland, for the winter ahead.
Meanwhile, today's report also states that the production and supply of indigenous biomethane in Ireland onto the gas network is expected to grow by 57% year-on-year over the winter period of 2023/2024.
Biomethane is a carbon-neutral renewable gas made from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion.
Gas Networks Ireland noted that the biogas can reduce emissions across key sectors of the economy including heating, industry, transport and power generation, while also supporting the decarbonisation of the agri-food sector.
Today's report also reveals that EU gas storage facilities reached 96% on average on October 1, which Gas Networks Ireland said equated to the highest amount of gas stored within the last five years.
"These current high storage levels, along with improvements to existing gas infrastructure and commissioning of new gas infrastructure throughout the EU - as well as enhanced cooperation between gas operators - reduce the dependence on gas supplies from Russia," it added.
Gas Networks Ireland's Future Networks Manager, Siobhán O'Halloran, said the country experienced historic levels of both demand for, and supply of, gas during the winter months last year.
"In fact, the highest daily gas demand was recorded on 15 December 2022 mainly due to the need for gas to generate electricity. It's also particularly notable as wind generation was not exceptionally low that day," Ms O'Halloran said.
She noted that gas demand last winter was 1.6% higher than the previous winter period, driven mainly by the increase in gas demand for power generation.
"At Gas Networks Ireland we have robust and tested procedures in place to manage Ireland’s gas supply. We ensure that Ireland's gas network is resilient and remains one of the most modern in the world, and we continuously monitor developments throughout Europe," she said.
"It is not currently envisioned that there will be any disruption to the supply of gas to Ireland this winter," she added.
