Bord Gáis Energy is celebrating 50 years of energising Irish homes and businesses. From introducing natural gas as a cleaner fuel in the 1970s, the company has long played a central role in Ireland’s energy story. Now, as Ireland embarks on the most ambitious transformation of its energy system to date, that role is evolving once again.
Ireland’s low–carbon transition brings both opportunity and challenge. Decarbonisation must be delivered without compromising on security of supply or affordability. The current situation in the Middle East also puts a sharp focus on the need to transition to renewables and reduce our dependency on external supply.
At Bord Gáis Energy, we are repurposing our business to lead the transition. With the backing of our parent company, Centrica plc, we have committed €1 billion over five years (2024–2029) in the infrastructure, innovation and customer solutions needed to support a secure, resilient and increasingly low-carbon energy system.
Our approach aligns with Irish Government policy, which recognises security of electricity supply as critical as the power system decarbonises. It highlights the need for major investment in flexible generation and energy storage, with renewable energy at the core of future security, supported by transitional solutions such as hydrogen and biomethane.
Securing supply during the transition
Bord Gáis Energy plays a critical role in safeguarding the electricity supply, particularly during periods of peak demand and variable renewable output on the national grid.
We have a total of 1GW of energy generation in operation and development, including our existing Whitegate Power Station in Co. Cork, which can provide up to 10 per cent of Ireland’s demand and is a critical part of the Cork Energy Hub. In response to EirGrid’s requirements, we’re finalising the development of two new gas peaking plants in Dublin and Athlone, with a third facility – the Cashla Peaker Plant in Co. Galway – currently progressing through planning. A synchronous condenser is also being developed at Bord Gáis Energy’s Whitegate Energy Park.
These plants are designed to stabilise the grid and support the continued growth of wind and solar, while remaining adaptable to biomethane and hydrogen blends in the future.
Scaling renewables and storage
By 2028, we will more than double our renewable portfolio, delivering almost 1 TWh of clean electricity annually – enough to power approximately 250,000 homes. This growth is being delivered through long–term Power Purchase Agreements with leading Irish wind and solar developers, ensuring more indigenous renewable power flows into the grid.
Bord Gáis Energy is also investing in future-focused system solutions. The Kestrel Project, a partnership with ESB and dCarbonX, will repurpose the decommissioned Kinsale gas fields into a long-duration energy storage asset. By providing large-scale storage within Ireland, the project can strengthen energy security and economic resilience by reducing exposure to international price volatility and supply disruption. Crucially, it also lays the foundations for the next phase of the transition, enabling large-scale green hydrogen storage, a critical piece of infrastructure for a net-zero energy system.
Strengthening Ireland’s operational capability
Centrica recently announced a decision to locate its Global Power Control Centre in Athlone, at Bord Gáis Energy’s Monksland site. The centre will oversee major power assets across Ireland, the UK, Belgium and Sweden, including flexible thermal generation, battery storage and solar.
Locating the Centrica Power Global Control Centre in Athlone, alongside the 100MW flexible peaking plant, brings real-time operational control and critical infrastructure together on one site. This investment shows how close collaboration between our UK and Irish teams is delivering secure energy, high-quality jobs and practical progress as the energy system transitions.
The next chapter
As Bord Gáis Energy marks its 50th anniversary, one message is clear: the energy transition is accelerating, and our ambition is growing with it. What has been delivered to date is only part of the story. With a strong pipeline of investment, new technologies and customer–focused solutions ahead, Bord Gáis Energy will continue to play a central role in supporting households, businesses and communities through the transition. Working alongside policymakers and partners, we believe Ireland can build an energy system that is secure, competitive and genuinely sustainable — energising a greener, fairer future for generations to come.
