Consultation on the second Electricity and Gas Networks Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (EGN SAP 2025)

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has prepared a draft Statutory Adaptation Plan for the Electricity and Gas Networks Sector for the purpose of public consultation.

The aim of this consultation is to gather feedback from individuals, communities, businesses and organisations across Ireland on the draft second Electricity and Gas Networks Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (EGN SAP 2025).

The EGN SAP 2025 focuses on climate adaptation. It is a strategic document designed to help Ireland’s electricity and gas networks build long term resilience to climate impacts and extreme weather events.

We want to hear your feedback on how you think climate change will impact the electricity and gas networks.

All interested parties are invited to contribute their views in relation to the Draft Plan during this 5-week consultation process.

Climate change is already affecting our energy system, and can cause power outages and infrastructure damage. From windstorms to increasing temperature and heatwave events, extreme weather is impacting our electricity and gas networks. It makes how we design, build, operate and maintain our electricity and gas networks even more crucial.

To address these challenges, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has developed the second Electricity and Gas Networks Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (EGN SAP 2025). This draft plan outlines how Ireland’s electricity and gas networks can adapt to future climate risks, and how we can improve the long-term resilience of our energy infrastructure.

The consultation forms part of the process of updating the original 2019 Electricity and Gas Networks Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan, in line with Ireland's National Adaptation Framework (NAF) and the updated 2024 Sectoral Planning Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation.

We want your views to help shape the final version of this second Electricity and Gas Networks Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan . In particular, we would like to hear your views on:

• Whether the plan helps prepare the electricity and gas networks for climate change
• Which parts of the electricity and gas networks are most at risk and how your area is already being affected
• What support or changes are required to put climate adaptation into action
• How can we make sure these changes are fair, transparent and work for everyone

By sharing your feedback, you can help shape how Ireland prepares for climate impacts and ensure our electricity and gas networks remains safe, secure, reliable, resilient and affordable for everyone.

Climate mitigation versus adaptation – what's the difference?

Mitigation means tackling the causes of climate change (for example: cutting emissions or switching to low carbon technologies).

Adaptation means responding to climate impacts that are already happening or are projected to happen in the future (for example, preparing for windstorms, flooding, heatwaves and other climate related events).

Climate resilience refers to our ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of climate change.

Why climate adaptation matters

Climate adaptation matters because it helps us reduce our vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events. By proactively adjusting to changes, we can minimise the negative impacts on our electricity and gas networks and associated infrastructure, whilst potentially capitalising on new opportunities.

This plan sets out 31 priority actions to reduce network disruption, safeguard our electricity and gas infrastructure and keep Ireland’s power supplies running safely.

It equips electricity and gas sectoral companies, operators and communities with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to plan, invest and adapt as necessary.

More about the National Adaptation Framework and Guidelines can be found on the department's website.

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Friday, 5 September 2025

Submissions should be sent by email to EGNSAP@dcee.gov.ie or by post to:

Consultation on the second Electricity and Gas Networks Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan

Energy Technical Advisory Section

Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Tom Johnson House

Haddington Road

D04 K7X4

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback in advance before we publish the final version of the Plan.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

Publishing of responses

We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

Please indicate any sensitive information

In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:

• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

Read our Data Privacy Notice

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:

• how and when we collect personal data
• why we do so
• how we treat this information
• your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
• how you can exercise those rights