From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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An energy emergency exercise was successfully held on 3 December to test the response to a hypothetical and unlikely disruption to Ireland's gas, electricity or oil supplies.
Routine exercises of this nature are held regularly – to stress-test the systems and procedures that are in place to ensure that the government, state agencies and industry are prepared to effectively manage a range of potential scenarios. Such exercises play a key role in ensuring a coordinated response to major incidents in the unlikely or rare event that they occur, and are in compliance with EU legislation on the security of energy supply.
These emergency exercises involve a number of government departments and key stakeholders in the energy sector, including Gas Networks Ireland, EirGrid, ESB Networks, National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
Gas Networks Ireland is the lead body on gas-related exercises, while EirGrid and ESB Networks lead on electricity-related exercises. The CRU oversees the overarching emergency plans, and works in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid, the latter working in conjunction with ESB Networks, have robust procedures in place with regard to gas and electricity supplies, and regularly participate in simulation exercises to test a range of potential scenarios.
NORA is responsible for ensuring that Ireland meets its obligations under EU legislation and International Energy Agency (IEA) rules to maintain oil supplies. NORA works closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to fulfil its remit.
The role played by these bodies ensures a coordinated response to major incidents, should they take place.
While a significant disruption to energy supplies is unlikely, it would have an impact across multiple sectors. The government is acutely aware of the effect that such a disruption would have on Irish households and businesses and is committed to ensuring that the risk is minimised and prepared for. As such, the established Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework structures for dealing with a major emergency would ensure a 'whole of government' response. In these circumstances, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications would be the lead Government department and would convene and chair the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) in the National Emergency Coordination Centre (NECC) to coordinate the Government’s response to the energy emergency.
The exercise was held today in the NECC, with valuable input from all of the key stakeholders involved. This will inform future exercises and ongoing emergency planning.
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities' (the CRU's) role in energy is to maintain security of supply (electricity and natural gas), ensure efficient network delivery and promote competition and innovation in the generation and supply of electricity and supply of natural gas.
The CRU is assisted in its statutory role by EirGrid, which is required to report to the CRU (with regard to security of electricity supply matters). EirGrid is responsible for the day-to-day management of the electricity system (grid), in its role as the Transmission System Operator (TSO). EirGrid works closely with ESB Networks – the Distribution System Operator (DSO) – in managing the flows of electricity throughout the whole grid.
Gas Networks Ireland operates and maintains Ireland's distribution and transmission national gas network and is responsible for safely and securely transporting gas to approximately 725,000 homes and businesses across the country.
The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) was established in 1995 under the European Communities (Minimum Stocks of Petroleum Oils) Regulations 1995 as a private limited company for the maintenance of Ireland's strategic oil reserves. Under the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 and associated legislation, NORA is responsible for ensuring that Ireland meets its obligations under EU legislation and International Energy Agency (IEA) rules to maintain a minimum of 90 days' oil supply. NORA works closely with the Energy Programme Performance Delivery Division of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to fulfil its remit and, in particular, in relation to planning for responding in the unlikely event of an emergency oil supply crisis.
Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 outlines a strategy to ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade, while ensuring a sustainable transition to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050. This report was published in November 2023 as part of an Energy Security Package, containing a range of supplementary analyses, consultations, and reviews, which have informed the recommendations and actions related to energy security.