The historic Moneypoint power station completes its transition from coal after 40 years of operation, cementing Ireland’s ambitious energy roadmap.
With a commemorative ceremony at the plant site, ESB officially marked the end of the plant’s coal-fired power generation generation at the Moneypoint power station. Minister Timmy Dooley and ESB CEO Paddy Hayes highlighted the vital role the station played for four decades in the country’s electricity supply. The plant had been developed in the 1980s in response to the oil crisis.
Conversion of the Moneypoint power plant
Since 2017, Moneypoint began preparing for a new stage with the installation of a 17 MW wind farm. In 2021, the Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint plan, with an investment of several million euros to transform the site into a renewable energy hub, taking advantage of its location and port infrastructure.
Although the use of coal has ceased, the plant will continue to operate until 2029 under special conditions. EirGrid and ESB have agreed that Moneypoint’s units will be able to generate power with oilbut will only be activated outside the market and under instruction from the regulator in the event of a shortage. This measure is part of the Irish security of supply program.
Steady path to net zero
Early closure of coal use reinforces the country’s climate commitments. ESB, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, sees this transition as a key part of its strategy. The plant already has a synchronous compensatorThe plant already has a synchronous compensator, the first of its kind in Ireland, which improves grid stability with renewable energy.
The launch of the synchronous compensator was realized in 2022. Source: ESB
Midwest communities, especially in Clare, have been a key part of this transformation. Moneypoint will continue as a strategic node in the national power grid as it develops its role as a clean energy hub. clean energy.
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Source and photo: ESB
