Ireland saw a sharp rise in gas usage last month as cooler weather and the arrival of Storm Amy drove up heating demand, according to Gas Networks Ireland’s latest gas demand statement.

Overall gas demand in October increased by 19% compared with September, with residential use more than doubling as households switched their heating back on during the coolest October since 2020.

Electricity

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Gas usage for electricity generation rose by 13%, with gas providing 39% of Ireland’s power in October. Wind accounted for 36%, while solar contributed 2%.

Wind Energy Ireland reports that October delivered the third-highest wind output on record for the month. Wind generation totalled about 1,229 GWh, with Kerry once again the top-producing county.

Prices

The average wholesale electricity price dropped to €100.70 per MWh, down from €123.45 a year earlier. Prices fell to as low as €55.84 per MWh on the windiest days but rose to €137.98 when fossil fuels dominated.

Winter ready

Gas Networks Ireland also published its Winter Outlook 2025/26, confirming that Ireland has sufficient supply and network capacity to meet demand even during a severe “1-in-50 winter peak day.”

The report highlights continued dependence on Britain for gas imports, expected to provide around 86% of Ireland’s requirements.

Planning

Wind Energy Ireland CEO Noel Cunniffe said wind power was keeping energy costs down and supporting Irish jobs but warned that planning delays are threatening progress.

The organisation’s latest planning report shows that only one new wind farm was approved between July and September, just 7% of the level needed to stay on track for Ireland’s climate targets.

The backlog in onshore wind applications has now grown to more than 2,000MW, equivalent to 40% of the country’s current installed capacity.