Liquid Gas Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Liquid Gas Ireland

Date published 21 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Redesign of Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme: As a sector, we support the principle of energy efficiency first, and have engaged positively with the 2014-2020 scheme, having delivered energy saving measures for our rural consumers. As an industry we support the deployment of highly efficient boilers and hybrid heating systems. We are keen to continue to support our rural household and business customers further along the energy efficiency and decarbonisation journey. Our Vision 2040 document

Intended results To present and generate awareness of Liquid Gas Ireland and the sector’s Vision 2040 which sets out how LPG and BioLPG can contribute to Ireland’s ‘Green New Deal’, including the ambitious goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and to the Government’s Clean Air Strategy. Liquid Gas Ireland outlined three key actions that it believes the Government must take to recognise and support the role of LPG and BioLPG in a just transition to lower carbon energy and cleaner air in rural Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Brian Derham (chair LGI)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

The proposals made by DECC for the 2021-2030 EEOS removes our ability deliver for our rural consumers, by removing LPG and BioLPG heating system eligibility – both standalone efficient boilers and hybrid systems. This is despite a very significant increase in the size of the obligation placed on the LPG industry, partly because of the shift from primary to final energy calculation – which lowers the obligation placed on the electricity industry. This will increase costs for rural consumers. While the current proposals will increase costs for our rural consumers, the removal of our ability to deliver, and the nature of the rural building stock, means that we anticipate a preference for cheaper urban delivery. In short, we anticipate that rural consumers will be asked to pay for a scheme which will potentially not benefit off-grid communities and businesses. With the increased burden and effectively the subsidisation of the electricity market and urban consumers, rural consumers

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Eamon Ryan Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)