Local gas-fired power station looks set to progress

Despite being in the pipeline for many years, a new gas-fired power station in Athlone looks set to finally ignite as part of a nationwide plan to deal with the soaring demand for electricity.

It is just one of nine new gas-fired power plants that are due to be built in Ireland by 2024, it's been reported this week, in a bid to head off a potential shortage of power on the island.

The raft of new developments emerged following a recent capacity auction run by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO), a joint venture between SONI in Northern Ireland, and EirGrid in the Republic, in a bid to meet future power needs countrywide.

Reports in the national media indicate that as a direct result of the auction, eight new plants will be developed in the Republic, including two in Westmeath, one in the Athlone area and another Rochfortbridge, and another in the North.

Back in 2019, Roscommon County Council approved a new unmanned gas-fired power station in Monksland, Athlone. Greener Ideas Ltd, a joint venture set up between Bord Gais Energy and Mountside Properties, got the green light over three years ago for a 100MW gas-fired power plant in Monksland Industrial Estate.

In relation to the local plant, Bord Gáis Energy on Monday welcomed the announcement that it, as part of a joint venture with Mountside Partners Ltd, has been successful in Eirgrid's recent auction to procure new electricity generation capacity for delivery to the grid in 2024.

“We are delighted to invest in additional flexible power generation which will support the critical growth of renewables whilst maintaining the stability of energy supply in Ireland.

“The technology selected can also be converted to run on green hydrogen in the future in support of Ireland’s ambition to decarbonise the electricity system,” a brief statement from Bord Gáis Energy, who have also got the green light to develop another power plant in Dublin, indicated.

However, the company was unable to answer further questions from the Westmeath Independent about the local project specifics, a timeline for construction to begin at this time.

During the planning process for the Monksland gas-fired power plant, it was revealed in the planning documents that the plant would provide little or no jobs boost for the area as the data provided by the developers at that time indicated it would be unmanned.

The power station, to be located on a 1.6 hectare site, would be operated remotely from Bord Gais Energy's Whitegate power station in Cork.

This type of power station is designed to run when electricity demand is higher than average and will regularise energy provision in the electricity grid especially in the context of an increase in the use of renewable technologies, such as solar and wind power, according to reports submitted as part of the planning process for the power plant.

The provisional capacity auction results included the provision of over 1,100 MW of new gas-fired generation and over 120 MW of battery storage in Ireland. One megawatt is considered enough power for 1,000 homes.

Other power plants are earmarked for Dublin, Galway, and Offaly, where a new biomass power plant is due to come on stream from a subsidiary of Bord na Móna.

Minister Eamon Ryan hailed the auction results as part of the Government's commitment to meet its ambitious target of up to 80% of electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2030.

“This is double the current share of renewable electricity and will require the development of significant levels of wind and solar generation. It also requires flexible gas-fired generation and storage that can support the variable nature of renewable electricity production and ensure the security of electricity supply as we phase out coal and oil for generation.”

He added that the Climate Action Plan sets out the need for circa 2,000 MW of gas-fired generation over the period to 2030.

“This generation will replace existing high-emitting power stations and is expected to spend much of its time in reserve to operate only when needed. The provisional auction results published on Friday are a key step towards delivering the generation needed. It is now vital that these projects are developed,” he stressed.