Fourteen new jobs as power control centre to move to Monksland

Fourteen new jobs are to be provided as a major power control centre is to relocate to the new Bord Gáis Energy facility in Monksland.

Centrica plc, which in 2014 took over Bord Gáis Energy, has said it has selected the Monksland plant as the location for a Centrica Power Global Control Centre.

The company said the decision positions Ireland as a core operations centre for the real-time management of major power assets across multiple international markets.

The announcement was made to coincide with Centrica’s Chief Executive Chris O’Shea’s participation at the UK & Ireland Summit in Cork on Thursday last, featuring An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer.

The new Centrica Power Global Control Centre will provide operational oversight of Centrica Power assets in Ireland, the UK, Belgium and Sweden, including flexible thermal generation, battery energy storage and solar.

The selection of Bord Gáis Energy’s Athlone facility will create 14 highly skilled roles in the Midlands, strengthening Ireland’s operational capability in energy system management, the company said.

From Athlone, the centre will support the secure, efficient operation of assets that help balance electricity systems during periods of peak demand and variable renewable generation. It will begin operating Bord Gáis Energy’s Irish assets from mid-2026, with Centrica Power’s UK assets transitioning in phases during Q2 and Q3 2026.

Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of Centrica, said: “Centrica’s investment in Ireland shows what is possible when the UK and Ireland work together: secure energy today, faster progress to net zero, and long-term economic resilience for both countries.”

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, said: “Ireland’s priority is to deliver a clean energy transition while maintaining security of supply and affordability. Investments like this bring highly skilled operational capability into the heart of our energy system, support regional development, and help ensure the infrastructure needed to deliver a just transition.” Kara Owen, British Ambassador to Ireland, said the announcement underlined "the genuine momentum driving the integrated economic relationship between the UK and Ireland".

Dave Kirwan, Country Chairperson of Bord Gáis Energy and Managing Director of Centrica Power, said: “Locating the Centrica Power Global Control Centre in Athlone, alongside our soon-to-be-commissioned 100MW flexible peaking plant, brings realtime operational control and critical infrastructure together on one site. Flexible generation plays a vital role in maintaining security of supply and enabling greater integration of renewables. This investment shows how close collaboration between our UK and Irish teams is delivering secure energy, highquality jobs and practical progress as the energy system transitions.”

The new control centre positions Athlone at the heart of Centrica’s international operations and reflects how strategic integration is translating into real infrastructure, operational capability and long-term value for both Ireland and the UK.