SBIA PARTNER PROFILE GAS NETWORKS IRELAND
Gas Networks Ireland is Committed to Sustainability and a Cleaner Energy Future Environmental, social and economic sustainability are at the heart of Gas Networks Ireland’s strategy and vision to deliver a secure, affordable and cleaner energy future for Ireland through renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen.
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as Networks Ireland operates and maintains Ireland’s €2.7bn, 14,617km national gas network, which is considered one of the safest and most modern gas networks in the world. Over 706,000 Irish homes and businesses trust Ireland’s gas network to provide affordable and reliable energy to meet their heating and cooking needs.
ENERGY FUTURE Producing significantly less carbon dioxide than coal and oil, natural gas has been helping Ireland reduce its carbon footprint since it was discovered off the coast of Ireland in the 1970s. A vital national asset, the gas network is the cornerstone of Ireland’s energy system, securely supplying more than 31% of Ireland’s total energy, including 40% of all heating and 52% of the country’s electricity generation. However, while natural gas is the cleanest conventional fuel, Ireland must transition to more sustainable alternatives to meet its climate action targets. Gas Networks Ireland’s vision is to replace natural gas with renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, to substantially reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions while ensuring a secure energy supply. By replacing natural gas with renewable gases and complementing intermittent renewable electricity, Gas Networks Ireland is supporting Ireland’s journey to a cleaner energy future.
SUSTAINABILITY RESPONSIBILITIES As a leading utility, Gas Networks Ireland is ever mindful of its sustainability responsibilities. The organisation is proud to be one of only 40 companies in Ireland to hold the Business Working Responsibly (BWR) mark and is committed to ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of everything it delivers. To further its commitment to sustainability, the national network operator has established a dedicated Sustainability Team to embed sustainable work practices across the business and to support the development and delivery of its sustainability strategy. COMMUNITY SUPPORT Sustainability at Gas Networks Ireland goes beyond environmental responsibilities. The company’s sustainability strategy has three key pillars–Environment, Social and Economic–and is aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the global pandemic, it exceeded its social responsibility goals throughout 2020, and was recognised for the passion and commitment its staff displayed during these challenging times with the CCA award for community support. It was pleased to be recognised for the passion its staff have displayed throughout these challenging times.
One in six Gas Networks Ireland employees volunteered last year, despite the challenges of social distancing, with many staff participating in an online techtutoring programme for older people in partnership with Age Action. They taught simple technology skills such as making video calls to family members, which has been a hugely important part of staying connected with one another throughout the pandemic. Another key area of support is education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. Gas Networks Ireland has partnered with Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) to run the STEM education programme, Energize, for the last decade. Energize was delivered to 5,000 sixth class students in 19 counties last year and was also made accessible online to support new virtual classrooms. ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY Supporting and enhancing biodiversity is a key pillar of Gas Networks Ireland’s sustainability strategy. As guardians of Ireland’s gas infrastructure, Gas Networks Ireland aims to deliver its services in a sustainable manner that contributes to the protection of the environment while supporting the social and economic development of the communities it operates in, as well as the wider economy. Gas Networks Ireland is committed
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