Written answers
Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Energy Infrastructure
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide a comprehensive list of energy-generating stations in Ireland that are scheduled for closure; their closure timeline; including stations, if any, that have already closed or decommissioned; the fuel source serving each respective station; their respective energy-generating capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52277/23]
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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126. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide a detailed breakdown of the entire infrastructure present at energy stations that are current, decommissioned and scheduled for closure; the types of facilities, equipment, and technologies employed in energy generation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52279/23]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 126 together.
The All-Island Generation Capacity Statement (GCS) is an annual report from EirGrid (Transmission System Operator) examining the likely balance between electricity demand and supply for the next 10 years. The GCS includes comprehensive information on energy generation capacities and infrastructure in Ireland. The GCS also includes a table of all the dispatchable generation capacity in Ireland, and documents information on known plant closures.
The GCS 2022-2031 report, which is published on EirGrids website, noted the following information on plants that were potentially at risk of closure in the near future:
| Plant | Capacity | Fuel | Information noted in GCS 2022-2031 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aghada (AT1) | 90MW | Distillate Oil | Scheduled to close by end 2023 |
| Tarbert | 592 MW | Heavy Fuel Oil | Unit has been placed on outage until Dec 2023. Scheduled to close thereafter |
| Moneypoint | 820MW | Coal | Modelled as not available from October 2024 |
| Edenderry | 118MW | Peat | Will now run exclusively on biomass from Jan 2024 |
As part of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities Security of Supply Programme, plans have been put in place to extend the operating life of a number of older generation plants for a temporary period under the "retain existing units" workstream until new capacity has been delivered to replace them through the Capacity Remuneration Mechanism.
The GCS 2023-2032 is expected to be published by EirGrid in the coming weeks with an updated assessment of the balance between electricity generation capacity and demand and as above with updated information in relation to anticipated closures.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide the mapped locations and acreage around power stations scheduled for closure, decommissioned, and active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52278/23]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The All-Island Generation Capacity Statement (GCS) is an annual report from EirGrid (Transmission System Operator) examining the likely balance between electricity demand and supply for the next 10 years. The GCS includes comprehensive information on energy generation capacities and infrastructure in Ireland. The GCS also includes a table of all the dispatchable generation capacity in Ireland, and documents information on known plant closures.
The GCS 2022-2031 report, which is published on EirGrids website, noted the following information on plants that were potentially at risk of closure in the near future:
| Plant | Capacity | Fuel | Information noted in GCS 2022-2031 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aghada (AT1) | 90MW | Distillate Oil | Scheduled to close by end 2023 |
| Tarbert | 592 MW | Heavy Fuel Oil | Unit has been placed on outage until Dec 2023. Scheduled to close thereafter |
| Moneypoint | 820MW | Coal | Modelled as not available from October 2024 |
| Edenderry | 118MW | Peat | Will now run exclusively on biomass from Jan 2024 |
As part of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities Security of Supply Programme, plans have been put in place to extend the operating life of a number of older generation plants for a temporary period under the "retain existing units" workstream until new capacity has been delivered to replace them through the Capacity Remuneration Mechanism.
The GCS 2023-2032 is expected to be published by EirGrid in the coming weeks with an updated assessment of the balance between electricity generation capacity and demand and as above with updated information in relation to anticipated closures.
The acreage and status of power stations are a matter for the relevant electricity generation companies and developers.
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