Gas, unlike electricity can be stored reliably and safely without a loss of efficiency. The development of storage facilities in Ireland can contribute to security of natural gas supplies and the CER welcomes and encourages such developments.
Kinsale Energy has an existing storage facility - the Southwest Kinsale reservoir. The CER licensed the facility and it was made available to third parties from 1 June 2006.
Gas can be injected into the storage facility during the summer months when there is a reduction in demand levels for gas. Shippers (gas transportation companies) can then take gas out of the storage facility during the winter months under the arrangements outlined in the Code of Operations in the same way as all other entry points on the transportation system.