Emergency generators to tackle electricity shortage progressing on schedule

Emergency generators meant to ease the Republic’s electricity supply squeeze will be ready for the coming winter, regulators say.

The Government sought emergency planning permission for four temporary gas-fired electricity generators, in counties Dublin, Longford and Kerry this year, in a bid to boost power supplies.

Three of the plants, two in Dublin and one in Shannonbridge, Co Longford, will begin generating electricity this winter, while the fourth, in Tarbert, Co Kerry, will come on stream in 2024, according to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

[ Moneypoint power station to be kept open until 2029 despite emissions concerns ]

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The Dublin facilities, in North Wall in the city centre and Huntstown, in the north of the county, have planning permission and all environmental licences.

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“Construction is progressing well on Huntstown, while North Wall is currently in the final commissioning phase and expected to be completed end of October,” states a commission paper published on Monday.

The Dublin plants will have the capacity to generate 240 mega watts (MW) of electricity between them, enough to supply up to 240,000 homes, according to some industry calculations.

Meanwhile, Shannonbridge and Tarbert have planning permission and have applied to the Environmental Protection Agency for other licences needed.

[ South Dublin County Council refuses permission for gas-powered data centre ]

The first Shannonbridge units should begin supplying power during this winter, 2023-2024, says the CRU, while Tarbert is due to do so in 2024.

The emergency power plants are part of an overall CRU programme to boost electricity generation and to stabilise the Irish power supply system.

In recent years, growing demand and a squeeze on supplies prompted several formal warnings to operators that electricity reserves were dangerously low.