Energy Security

Restoring strategic energy storage

Kestrel restores strategic energy storage lost as Ireland moved away from coal, peat and oil. By protecting against supply disruption, price volatility and system stress, it strengthens resilience while gas remains essential to heat and power.

Strategic Storage at Scale

Natural gas was safely stored at Kinsale from 2001 to 2017. Ireland now has no long-duration gas storage, despite relying heavily on imported gas. Kestrel restores that protection through proven, repurposed geological storage at national scale.

Restores indigenous gas storage using a proven reservoir model.
Provides at least 90 days of strategic reserve, compared with no storage in Ireland today and around six days in the UK.
Brings Ireland broadly into line with European storage norms and strengthens resilience against prolonged disruption.

Why it matters?

Indigenous storage closes a critical resilience gap, complementing the FSRU and reducing dependence on gas entering through Moffat.

Complements Existing Government Policy

Kestrel complements the Government’s FSRU strategy. The FSRU diversifies imports and provides short-term flexibility; Kestrel provides the indigenous, long-duration reserve needed during sustained disruption.

FSRU: import flexibility. Kestrel: indigenous reserve.
Gas Networks Ireland analysis confirms that an FSRU alone cannot cover a full UK supply outage; geological storage is needed to close the gap.
Together, the assets strengthen compliance with EU security-of-supply standards and reduce system exposure.

Why it matters?

This is not an either-or it’s a and/both complementary approach, aligned with best practice across the EU.