Ireland approves FSRU-based 'strategic gas emergency reserve'

Ireland has agreed to proceed with the development of a state-led strategic gas emergency reserve in the form of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) owned by Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). 

When in place off the coast, the yet-to-be-named FSRU will be one of several recently relocated to European countries in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The FSRUs receive shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and return the liquid shipments back to their gaseous state for use in the nation’s energy grid.

Calling the delivery of a temporary gas reserve "critical to Ireland’s energy security" and a transition measure to bridge what the Irish government says is a move to domestically produced renewable energy, the government said the use of LNG complies with EU standards and regulation.
"The development of a State-led reserve in the form of an FSRU is consistent with Ireland’s climate law. It is a transitional measure – reducing the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets, for emergency use only, and does not support increased gas demand, Ireland’s Ministry for Transport, Environment, Climate and Energy said. 

Darragh O’Brien, who oversees the government department said the government maintains its position that long-term energy security is best-achieved by growing domestic production of renewable energy, improvements in energy efficiency, electrification of heat and transport, and other measures.

"Our exposure to potential disruption to gas supplies presents a significant risk to our energy security, and the continuity of supply to businesses and households across Ireland. This emergency reserve will provide an alternative source of gas at an appropriate scale if Ireland was to experience such an interruption," Minister O’Brien said.

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