ABOUT US

Mutual Energy is a major player in the Northern Ireland energy sector managing critically important gas and electricity assets.

We own and operate the two vital energy links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain: the Moyle Interconnector which is the only link between the electricity systems of Northern Ireland and Scotland, and the Scotland to Northern Ireland natural gas transmission pipeline (SNIP), which imports the vast majority of the gas used in Northern Ireland.

As well as the subsea assets we own and operate other large sections of the gas transmission network (the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline and the West Transmission Pipeline), have responsibility for co-ordinating the response to gas emergencies throughout Northern Ireland and work with the other Transmission operator to provide a market operator function ensuring the efficient transportation of gas throughout Northern Ireland.

OPERATING
ASSETS

All our assets are of strategic importance, and a failure in any one would lead to widespread disruption. Mutual Energy aims to manage them to the highest standards of safety, reliability and efficiency. Our overall purpose is to own and operate energy infrastructure in the long-term interest of Northern Ireland energy consumers.

WHAT IS A MUTUAL

We are a mutual, which means that, because we have no shareholders to pay, we reinvest the money we earn for the long-term benefit of energy users in Northern Ireland. Our governance model is unique in the energy industry – members are appointed to represent the energy consumers of Northern Ireland and fulfil many of the roles of shareholders in other companies, scrutinising the performance of the organisation.

For more information on becoming a member, please click here

BECOME A MEMBER

Our members play an important governance role within Mutual Energy.
For further information and to find out how to join click below to view our membership brochure.

VIEW MEMBERSHIP BROCHURE

NINEC

As a business central to the functioning of the Northern Ireland Gas Network Mutual Energy is also the Northern Ireland Network Emergency Co-ordinator.

As NINEC we are responsible for establishing adequate arrangements for co-ordinating the actions of all asset operators and gas companies if there is a threat to the supply of gas through the network. Where a supply emergency develops on the Northern Ireland (NI) network we are responsible for taking the timely decisions in order to minimise the risks and consequences of a supply emergency.

In order to prevent a supply emergency occurring on the NI network or to minimise the consequences associated with an ongoing supply emergency, the NINEC has established arrangements and procedures for co-ordinating the actions of licenced gas companies throughout the whole Northern Ireland network.

INTRO TO OUR
GAS BUSINESS

Our gas businesses are key players in Northern Ireland’s energy industry, owning and managing the sub-sea Scotland/Northern Ireland gas pipeline (SNIP) through which the vast majority of the gas consumed in Northern Ireland flows, as well as the main gas transmission pipeline bringing gas from Islandmagee to the greater Belfast area and to the west of Northern Ireland.

All our pipelines operate under an ‘open access’, non-discriminatory commercial framework.

Premier Transmission Limited

Premier Transmission Limited is the owner and operator of the Scotland to Northern Ireland natural gas transmission pipeline. The 24-inch diameter pipeline is 135km long, running from Twynholm in Scotland to Ballylumford in Northern Ireland. The pipeline was constructed over a period of three years between 1994-1996. The pipeline transports gas to Ballylumford power Station (which generates a substantial proportion of Northern Ireland’s energy needs) and feeds the Greater Belfast natural gas distribution system via the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline.

Belfast Gas Transmission Limited

Belfast Gas Transmission Limited owns the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline system. This consists of 26km of 600mm “cross country” pipeline connected to the SNIP pipeline at Ballylumford, as well as above ground installations at Torytown, where pressure is reduced before exiting the system and Middle Division, where the North West Pipeline connects. In addition there are two underwater pipelines, a 9km, 60mm pipeline across Belfast Lough and a 3km, 200mm pipeline across Larne Lough, both supplying the downstream gas markets.

The pipeline was constructed between 1995-1998.

West Transmission Limited

The newest asset in our group is the West Transmission pipeline which was completed in January 2020, bringing natural gas to major towns in the western area of Northern Ireland. The project commenced when the group won a competitive tender process triggered by the Department for the Economy, and Mutual Energy, along with our project partner SGN Natural Gas, were awarded licenses by the Utility Regulator in 2015 to build and operate high pressure and low pressure gas pipelines to extend the natural gas network to the towns of Cookstown, Dungannon, Derrylin, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Omagh and Strabane.

Mutual Energy, through its subsidiary West Transmission Limited, is responsible for the high pressure delivery of gas to the key towns and owns the West Transmission Pipeline, a 78km cross country high pressure pipeline from Portadown to Fivemiletown with three offtakes to deliver gas to all targeted town gates, and the pressure reduction station at Maydown essential to the supply of gas to Strabane.

For more information about the Gas to the West project from its inception, please read our case study.

INTRO TO OUR
ELECTRICITY BUSINESS

Mutual Energy owns and operates the Moyle Interconnector which links the electricity transmission systems of Northern Ireland and Scotland through submarine cables running between converter stations in Islandmagee, Country Antrim and Auchencrosh in Ayrshire.

Commercial Operation

When the interconnector went into commercial operation in early 2002, it ended the isolation of Northern Ireland from the much larger electricity systems of Great Britain and continental Europe, enhancing the security of electricity supply in Northern Ireland and reducing the costs of running the electricity system.

Single Electricity Market (SEM)

The introduction of the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM) in 2007 saw these benefits extended to consumers across the island of Ireland. When the new Integrated Single Electricity market (I-SEM) went live on 1st October 2018, the SEM and GB markets became even more closely linked, and evidence suggests that Moyle is now being used much more efficiently to benefit consumers in both markets.

For more information on the history and development of the Moyle Interconnector, please click here.

ENERGY TRANSITION

Mutual Energy has established an Energy Transition team, focusing on the key strategic issues critical to the successful delivery of decarbonisation. Click below to find out more information about our work supporting the Energy Transition in Northern Ireland.

Energy Transition

BEFORE