Shannonbridge emergency power facility yet to supply national grid

More than 18 months after first being available to the national grid, a 262MW emergency power generation facility in Shannonbridge has not yet been called into use.

EirGrid, operator of the electricity grid, last week confirmed the West Offaly Temporary Electricity Generating (TEG) unit had not yet been “dispatched” (provided power to the national grid).

A statement to the Offaly Independent read: “EirGrid can confirm that TEG at Shannonbridge has not been dispatched for adequacy purposes.

“As part of readiness preparation however, routine testing does take place from time to time.”

The facility, at the former West Offaly Power station, was given the go-ahead in April 2023 by then Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, as part of a national drive to combat potential winter power shortages.

It contains eight gas turbine units, fuelled by diesel oil, eight 30-metre-tall steel exhaust stacks and two 110kV generator step-up transformers.

Six of the eight units were installed in November 2024, with the facility fully available to provide power from March 2025.

The Shannonbridge facility is one of four similar facilities, including in North Wall and Huntstown in Dublin, and Tarbert in Kerry, understood to have cost up to €1 billion,

EirGrid confirmed to The Irish Times this week that it drafted in the emergency power plant in Tarbert on Wednesday, when the electricity supply from solar sources was impacted by the eclipse.

The four facilities were commissioned by EirGrid after it was directed by the Commission for for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

The CRU indicated if the emergency generation did not proceed, there would be a clear risk that power outages could occur.

EirGrid has previously said that, even when a TEG unit is not physically dispatched, it has significant benefits for the electricity system as it helps improve the adequacy position in Ireland, by contributing to real-time operational margins on the power system.