Firmus Energy
Encyclopedia
firmus energy is an energy company based in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Bord Gáis has an ambitious plan to develop the gas market in Northern Ireland
. A pipeline from Carrickfergus
to Derry
was completed in October 2004 and now serves Coolkeeragh Power Station
. A second pipeline, known as the South-North pipeline, was commissioned in October 2006. It runs from Gormanston
in the Republic to join the Carrick/Derry pipeline near Antrim creating an all-Ireland network and providing redundancy
in case of problems with either Scotland - Northern Ireland pipeline or the Scotland - Republic of Ireland interconnectors.
The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation has awarded Bord Gáis a licence to supply homes and businesses in the towns and cities near the two pipelines - Antrim, Armagh
, Ballymena
, Ballymoney
, Banbridge
, Craigavon
, Derry
, Limavady
and Newry
- where the local subsidiaries of BG use the trading name of firmus energy. On 1 December 2005, firmus launched their first supply in Northern Ireland, to the large Michelin
tyre
factory in Ballymena. On 25 April 2006 firmus connected its first residential customers in Derry.
The decision to award this licence was widely disputed and Phoenix Gas
, the incumbent in Belfast
and the surrounding area, launched a judicial review of the decision to award it to BGE, they claimed that it was more of a political decision and they claimed that Bord Gáis will lose a significant amount of money and that the business will be loss making.
firmus energy are also competing to supply gas and electricity to large industrial and commercial customers across Northern Ireland. They supply gas in Belfast
to Northern Ireland's largest bakery, Allied Bakeries
and have been awarded an electricity supply licence. 0n 30 March 2009, the company said it had signed up Ballymena
soft drink
s manufacturer Norbev as its first electricity customer.
In the autumn of 2009, a consortium of BGE (Northern Ireland) and Storengy, a company of GDF Suez
, undertook a seismic survey
of land in the Larne
area to determine if there are salt
layers that could be used for the storage of natural gas. The survey confirmed the existence of the salt and a test borehole will be dug in Spring 2011 to confirm it has suitable mechanical properties.
In October 2010, firmus energy extended competition in the Northern Ireland electricity market in parts of the agriculture
sector by offering a discount on some current NIE
tariffs to members of the Ulster Farmers' Union.
In January 2011, firmus energy launched an offer for domestic gas customers in and around Belfast, claiming to be 'at least 7.5% cheaper than Phoenix
'.
Bord Gáis has an ambitious plan to develop the gas market in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. A pipeline from Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
was completed in October 2004 and now serves Coolkeeragh Power Station
Coolkeeragh power station
Coolkeeragh power station is a power station near Derry in Northern Ireland.The station produces 400 megawatts from a gas fired combined cycle power plant, constructed on the site of the old Coolkeeragh power station...
. A second pipeline, known as the South-North pipeline, was commissioned in October 2006. It runs from Gormanston
Gormanston, County Meath
Gormanston or Gormanstown is a village in County Meath, Ireland. It is near the mouth of the River Delvin and the northern border of County Dublin.-Access:Gormanston is near the M1 Dublin-Belfast road...
in the Republic to join the Carrick/Derry pipeline near Antrim creating an all-Ireland network and providing redundancy
Redundancy (engineering)
In engineering, redundancy is the duplication of critical components or functions of a system with the intention of increasing reliability of the system, usually in the case of a backup or fail-safe....
in case of problems with either Scotland - Northern Ireland pipeline or the Scotland - Republic of Ireland interconnectors.
The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation has awarded Bord Gáis a licence to supply homes and businesses in the towns and cities near the two pipelines - Antrim, Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, Ballymoney
Ballymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
, Banbridge
Banbridge
Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It was named after a bridge built over the Bann in 1712. The town grew as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing...
, Craigavon
Craigavon
Craigavon is a settlement in north County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan...
, Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
and Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
- where the local subsidiaries of BG use the trading name of firmus energy. On 1 December 2005, firmus launched their first supply in Northern Ireland, to the large Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
tyre
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
factory in Ballymena. On 25 April 2006 firmus connected its first residential customers in Derry.
The decision to award this licence was widely disputed and Phoenix Gas
Phoenix Natural Gas
Phoenix Natural Gas is the largest gas distribution business in Northern Ireland, being the owner and operator of the licence for the distribution network in the Greater Belfast area...
, the incumbent in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and the surrounding area, launched a judicial review of the decision to award it to BGE, they claimed that it was more of a political decision and they claimed that Bord Gáis will lose a significant amount of money and that the business will be loss making.
firmus energy are also competing to supply gas and electricity to large industrial and commercial customers across Northern Ireland. They supply gas in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
to Northern Ireland's largest bakery, Allied Bakeries
Associated British Foods
Associated British Foods plc is a global food, ingredients and retail company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its ingredients division is the world's second largest producer of both sugar and baker's yeast and a major producer of other ingredients including emulsifiers, enzymes and lactose...
and have been awarded an electricity supply licence. 0n 30 March 2009, the company said it had signed up Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s manufacturer Norbev as its first electricity customer.
In the autumn of 2009, a consortium of BGE (Northern Ireland) and Storengy, a company of GDF Suez
GDF Suez
GDF Suez S.A. is a French multinational energy company which operates in the fields of electricity generation and distribution, natural gas and renewable energy. The world's largest utility after taking control of Britain's International Power, the company was initially formed by the merger of Gaz...
, undertook a seismic survey
Reflection seismology
Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
of land in the Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
area to determine if there are salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
layers that could be used for the storage of natural gas. The survey confirmed the existence of the salt and a test borehole will be dug in Spring 2011 to confirm it has suitable mechanical properties.
In October 2010, firmus energy extended competition in the Northern Ireland electricity market in parts of the agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
sector by offering a discount on some current NIE
Northern Ireland Electricity
Northern Ireland Electricity Limited is the electricity asset owner of the transmission and distribution infrastructure in Northern Ireland. NIE does not own generate or supply electricity. NIE is a subsidiary of ESB Group....
tariffs to members of the Ulster Farmers' Union.
In January 2011, firmus energy launched an offer for domestic gas customers in and around Belfast, claiming to be 'at least 7.5% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix Natural Gas
Phoenix Natural Gas is the largest gas distribution business in Northern Ireland, being the owner and operator of the licence for the distribution network in the Greater Belfast area...
'.