'The reliance on coal and peat in electricity generation in Ireland is a significant challenge. A step change is required'

What's your name?

Fran McFadden

What’s your current job?

National Customer Acquisition Manager with Gas Networks Ireland. Simply put, I’m responsible for connecting new customers across residential, commercial and industrial sectors to natural gas.

How long have you held the position?

I started in the role in May 2018. Since joining Gas Networks Ireland, I’ve held a number of positions in the Commercial department, all focused on increasing the use of natural gas in Ireland. This is particularly pertinent as we prepare to decarbonise the natural gas grid and move to a more sustainable and renewable gas network.

Can you describe your daily work routine?

Managing the national sales and new connections teams responsible for growing Gas Networks Ireland’s customer base forms a large part of my daily routine. Getting the message out to key stakeholders and the general public that natural gas plays a critically important role in Ireland’s current and future energy mix also feeds into my daily work routine.

What is your professional background?

After completing a Batchelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering in University College Dublin, I spent 12 years working in the Telecommunications industry, where the last position I held was Global Account Manager leading a large sales team across America, Europe and Asia. I joined Gas Networks Ireland 12 years ago and have held various roles including Munster Sales Manager, National Large I&C Sales Manager, National Commercial Connections Manager and now National Customer Acquisition Manager.

Tell me about yourself away from work?

I’m originally from Donegal but have been living in Cork now for almost 25 years (still a blow-in). I’m married to Emer and have two children, Jack aged 13 and Hannah aged 10. My hobbies include cycling, swimming and playing squash.

Tell us something very few people know about you?

I can solve a standard Rubik’s Cube in under 3 minutes (no world record but not bad!!)

You are speaking at the forthcoming Power Summit in Croke Park. What is the focus of your talk?

I’ll be participating in a Panel discussion on the topic:

“How will and should Ireland adapt to the monumental change taking place in the energy sector?”

For decades natural gas has played a vital role in Ireland’s energy mix and economic progress and there is every reason for natural gas to continue to play a significant role - even with policy being driven by renewable energy.

With over 50% of electricity generated and consumed in this country coming from natural gas- fired power plants, and natural gas accounting for almost 30% of primary consumption in Ireland, it is the ideal partner for intermittent renewables, when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. The move to a renewable gas grid (containing 20% by 2030) has the potential to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. This offers an alternative to natural gas without the need for expensive retrofits, upgrading of equipment or appliances.

What do you see as the main challenges ahead for Ireland energy market within the next 5 years?

Greenhouse gas emissions coming from Ireland’s energy, transport, agricultural and residential sectors pose an enormous challenge, in terms of, missing our 2020 and 2030 European emissions targets. Ireland has one of the highest emission rates per capita in Europe and is in the bottom five countries in Europe when it comes to our emission reductions. It is expected that we will miss our 2020 targets by a long-shot with a paltry 1% reduction against a target of 20%. A step change is required.

Decarbonisation of the natural gas grid, moving to renewable gas, in conjunction with a shift of heavy goods vehicles, in the transport sector, to the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and later to renewable gas, has the potential to significantly reduce Ireland’s emissions.

As 20% of transport emissions come from only 3% of vehicles, a move away from diesel to natural gas can hugely reduce the impact these vehicles have on Ireland’s emissions and air quality.

In the agricultural sector, the removal of agricultural waste for use in Anaerobic Digestion(AD) facilities, producing renewable gas, plus the production of a bio-fertiliser, as part of the AD process, for use as an environmentally-friendly farming fertiliser, will significantly drive down emissions from agriculture.

The continued reliance on coal and peat in electricity generation in Ireland is also a significant challenge. Removing these heavy carbon fuels from the energy mix is imperative.

Fran McFadden is speaking at the National Power Summit at Croke Park on January 31st. Full details are available atwww.powersummit.ie